Adverbs & Expressions

Introduction

Adverbs add nuance and precision to your Japanese. From とても (very) to たくさん (a lot), these words modify verbs and adjectives to express degree, frequency, and manner.

Small words with big impact — they make the difference between basic and natural-sounding Japanese.

Themes

All JLPT N5 Vocabulary in This Chapter (49)

1. とても とても Very; awfully; exceedingly. Used to intensify adjectives and adverbs.
2. たくさん たくさん A lot; lots; plenty; many; much. Used to express a large quantity or amount.
3. 少し すこし A little; a bit; a small amount; slightly; somewhat.
4. ちょっと ちょっと A little; a bit; slightly. Also used to get attention or soften refusals.
5. もう もう Already; yet; by now. With negatives: not any more; not any longer.
6. まだ まだ Still; as yet; not yet. Indicates an ongoing or incomplete state.
7. もっと もっと More; even more; further; longer. Used to express a greater degree.
8. いつも いつも Always; all the time; at all times. Expresses habitual or constant action.
9. よく よく Often; frequently; well; thoroughly. A versatile adverb of frequency and manner.
10. 時々 ときどき Sometimes; occasionally; at times; from time to time; now and then.
11. あまり あまり Not much; not very (with negatives). Also: remainder; surplus; too much.
12. 全然 ぜんぜん Not at all; not in the slightest. Emphasizes complete negation.
13. 全部 ぜんぶ All; entire; whole; everything; altogether.
14. 一番 いちばん Number one; first; first place. As an adverb: most; best; -est.
15. だんだん だんだん Gradually; by degrees; little by little; more and more; increasingly.
16. ゆっくり ゆっくり Slowly; unhurriedly; without haste; leisurely; at one's leisure.
17. 初めて はじめて For the first time. Marks a first experience or occurrence.
18. すぐ すぐ Immediately; at once; right away; directly. Also: nearby; close.
19. やっと やっと At last; finally; barely; narrowly. Conveys relief after a long wait or effort.
20. 多分 たぶん Probably; likely; perhaps; maybe. Expresses moderate probability.
21. 本当 ほんとう Truth; reality; fact. As an adverb (本当に): really; truly; genuinely.
22. 一緒 いっしょ Together; the same. Used to express doing something jointly with others.
23. 特に とくに Particularly; especially; in particular; expressly.
24. 大体 だいたい Generally; on the whole; mostly; almost; approximately; roughly; about.
25. 例えば たとえば For example; for instance; e.g. Used to introduce illustrative examples.
26. そう そう Appearing that; seeming that; looking like. Also used to agree: 'yes, that's right.'
27. こう こう In this way; like this; so; thus. Refers to manner near the speaker.
28. ああ ああ Ah!; oh!; alas! An interjection expressing surprise, realization, or admiration.
29. どう どう How; in what way; how about. The question word for manner and opinion.
30. ここ ここ Here; this place. Indicates a location near the speaker.
31. そこ そこ There; that place. Indicates a location near the listener.
32. あそこ あそこ There; over there; that place; yonder. Refers to a place far from both speaker and listener.
33. どこ どこ Where; what place. The interrogative pronoun for location.
34. これ これ This; this one. A demonstrative pronoun for things near the speaker.
35. それ それ That; it. A demonstrative pronoun for things near the listener or previously mentioned.
36. あれ あれ That; that thing. A demonstrative pronoun for things far from both speaker and listener.
37. どれ どれ Which; which one. An interrogative pronoun for choosing among three or more items.
38. その その That; the. A pre-noun modifier for things near the listener or previously mentioned.
39. あの あの That; those; the. A pre-noun modifier for things far from both speaker and listener.
40. 殿 どの Mr.; Mrs.; Miss; Ms. A formal honorific suffix used in official documents and correspondence.
41. いつ いつ When; at what time; how soon. The interrogative word for time.
42. 何 なに What. The basic interrogative pronoun for asking about things.
43. 誰 だれ Who. The interrogative pronoun for asking about people.
44. なぜ なぜ Why; how; for what reason. A question word for asking about causes and reasons.
45. どうして どうして Why; how; for what reason; in what way. A versatile question word.
46. どうやって どうやって How; in what way; by what means. Asks specifically about methods or procedures.
47. いくつ いくつ How many; how old. A question word for quantity and age.
48. どのくらい どのくらい How long; how far; how much; to what extent. Asks about degree, duration, or distance.
49. どちら どちら Which way; which direction; where; which (of two). A polite interrogative pronoun.