By all means, probably, surely, hardly, at last — the words that set the tone of a sentence.
Many Japanese adverbs announce how the sentence will end before it gets there. 全然, 決して and なかなか (in the sense of "not easily") wait for a negative verb; たぶん and きっと lead up to でしょう or と思います; ぜひ leads to a wish or a request. Learning the adverb together with the ending it expects is what makes it usable. Most of them are written in kana.
The words
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Adverb (38)
ぜひby all means; definitelyAdverbN4
京都に来たら、ぜひ連絡してください。If you come to Kyoto, do get in touch.
Mostly with a wish or a request (〜たい, 〜てください); it is not used for a guess — that is きっと.
きっとsurely; I am sureAdverbN4
彼ならきっと試験に合格するでしょう。I am sure he will pass the exam.
The speaker's confident guess, not a fact.
たぶんprobablyAdverbN4
明日はたぶん雨が降ると思います。I think it will probably rain tomorrow.
Often followed by でしょう or と思います.
必ずwithout fail; alwaysAdverbN4
出かけるときは、必ず鍵をかけてください。Always lock the door when you go out.
なかなかquite; (with a negative) not easilyAdverbN4
バスがなかなか来ません。The bus is taking ages to come.
With a positive it means "quite, rather": なかなかおいしい.
ずいぶんvery; considerablyAdverbN4
日本語がずいぶん上手になりましたね。Your Japanese has got a lot better.
Often expresses surprise at how much something has changed.
ほとんどalmost; almost allAdverbN4
宿題はほとんど終わりました。I have almost finished my homework.
With a negative: ほとんど分かりません, I hardly understand anything.
特にespecially; in particularAdverbN4
日本料理は何でも好きですが、特にすしが好きです。I like all Japanese food, but I particularly like sushi.
やっとat last; finallyAdverbN4
三時間待って、やっと順番が来ました。After waiting three hours, my turn finally came.
After effort or waiting; the speaker is relieved.
すぐat once; soon; close byAdverbN4
家に着いたら、すぐ電話します。I will call you as soon as I get home.
Often すぐに.
もっとmoreAdverbN4
もっとゆっくり話してください。Please speak more slowly.
だいたいroughly; mostlyAdverbN4
説明はだいたい分かりました。I understood most of the explanation.
全然not at all (with a negative)AdverbN4
昨日は全然眠れませんでした。I could not sleep at all last night.
With a negative; in casual speech it also means "totally".
本当にreally; trulyAdverbN4
手伝ってくれて、本当にありがとう。Thank you so much for helping me.
ちょうどexactly; justAdverbN4
駅に着いたとき、ちょうど電車が来ました。Just as I got to the station, the train came in.
はっきりclearlyAdverbN4
嫌なときは、はっきり言ったほうがいいですよ。When you do not want to, it is better to say so clearly.
初めてfor the first timeAdverbN4
去年、初めて雪を見ました。Last year I saw snow for the first time.
またagain; alsoAdverbN4
また来週会いましょう。Let's meet again next week.
まずfirst (of all)AdverbN4
まず手を洗って、それから料理を始めます。First wash your hands, then start cooking.
もちろんof courseAdverbN4
「一緒に行きますか。」「もちろん行きます。」"Are you coming with us?" "Of course I am."
さっきa moment agoAdverbN4
さっき田中さんから電話がありました。Mr Tanaka phoned a little while ago.
先にfirst; ahead (of someone)AdverbN4
すみません、お先に失礼します。Excuse me, I will be leaving before you.
お先に失礼します is what you say when leaving work before your colleagues.
けっこうfairly; quiteAdverbN4
この店のラーメンはけっこうおいしいです。The ramen in this restaurant is pretty good.
Better than expected; also a na-adjective, 結構です, no thank you.
かなりconsiderably; quite a lotAdverbN4
今日はかなり寒いですね。It is rather cold today, isn't it?
ずっとall the time; by farAdverbN4
朝からずっと雨が降っています。It has been raining non-stop since the morning.
In comparisons: ずっと大きい, much bigger.
だんだんgraduallyAdverbN4
日本の生活にだんだん慣れてきました。I am gradually getting used to life in Japan.
少しずつlittle by littleAdverbN4
毎日少しずつ漢字を覚えています。I am learning kanji a little at a time every day.
だいぶa good deal; muchAdverbN4
薬を飲んで、だいぶ良くなりました。I took the medicine and I am a lot better.
別に(not) particularlyAdverbN4
別に欲しいものはありません。There is nothing in particular I want.
With a negative; alone, 別に。 can sound curt.
ちゃんとproperly (casual)AdverbN4
野菜もちゃんと食べなさい。Eat your vegetables properly too.
きちんとneatly; properlyAdverbN4
使った本は棚にきちんと戻してください。Please put the books you used neatly back on the shelf.
A little more formal than ちゃんと.
なるべくas much as possibleAdverbN4
なるべく早く返事をください。Please reply as soon as you can.
できるだけas far as possibleAdverbN4
できるだけ毎日歩くようにしています。I try to walk every day as far as I can.
絶対にabsolutely; definitelyAdverbN4
この話は絶対に誰にも言わないでください。Please do not tell anyone about this, under any circumstances.
決してnever (with a negative)AdverbN3
あの日のことは決して忘れません。I will never forget that day.
Always with a negative; more formal than 絶対に.
もしif (introducing a condition)AdverbN4
もし時間があったら、手伝ってください。If you have time, please help me.
Announces a condition; the verb still needs 〜たら or 〜ば.
やっぱりas expected; after allAdverbN4
色々考えましたが、やっぱり行かないことにしました。I thought it over a lot, but in the end I decided not to go.
Casual form of やはり.
とにかくanyway; at any rateAdverbN4
とにかく、一度会って話しましょう。Anyway, let's meet and talk it over.
This list belongs to The scaffolding — 24 lists and 964 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.