とても

• Reading: とても
• Romaji: totemo
• Pronunciation: /to.te.mo/

Meaning

Very; awfully; exceedingly. Used to intensify adjectives and adverbs.

One of the most frequently used intensifiers in Japanese, placed directly before the word it modifies. Unlike 大変 (taihen), とても is neutral and appropriate in all registers. Can also be used with negative forms to mean 'not at all possible.'

Examples

1. 今日はとても暑いですね。 It's really hot today, isn't it?
2. この映画はとてもおもしろかった。 This movie was really interesting.
3. 日本語の勉強はとても楽しいです。 Studying Japanese is a lot of fun.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, conversation, writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Originally written as 迚も, derived from the classical Japanese word とてもかくても meaning 'no matter what.' Over time, the meaning shifted from expressing impossibility to simply intensifying.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal