Degree adverbs describe how much or how little of something. They modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to show intensity or amount.
Positive usage
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Conjugaison |
|---|---|---|---|
| ぜんぶ | zenbu | all, everything | - |
| すべて | subete | all, everything | - |
| たくさん | takusan | a lot | - |
| とても | totemo | very | positive verb |
| すごく | sugoku | very / incredibly | positive verb |
| ちょっと | chotto | a little | - |
| すこし | sukoshi | a little | - |
| かなり | kanari | quite / fairly | positive verb |
| もっと | motto | more | positive verb |
| だいたい | daitai | around / approx. | - |
| まあまあ | maamaa | so-so / kind of | - |
Negative usage
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Conjugaison |
|---|---|---|---|
| すくなく | sukunaku | less | negative verb |
| あまり | amari | not very | negative verb |
| ぜんぜん | zenzen | not at all | negative verb |
| まったく | mattaku | not at all | negative verb |
まったく can either mean "completely" or "not at all" depending if the verb is using positive or negative conjugaison.
ぜんぶ たべました。
Zenbu tabemashita.
I ate everything.
このラーメンは とても おいしい です。
Kono rāmen wa totemo oishii desu.
This ramen is very delicious.
きょうは すごく さむい です。
Kyou wa sugoku samui desu.
Today is really cold.
にほんご は ちょっと むずかしい です。
Nihongo wa chotto muzukashii desu.
Japanese is a little difficult.
このえいが は あまり おもしろくない です。
Kono eiga wa amari omoshirokunai desu.
This movie is not very interesting.
わたし は おさけ を ぜんぜん のみません。
Watashi wa osake o zenzen nomimasen.
I don’t drink alcohol at all.
Time adverbs indicate when an action takes place. They are crucial for forming clear, basic sentences — especially with verbs.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| はじめて | hajimete | for the first time |
| いま | ima | now |
| きのう | kinou | yesterday |
| まいにち | mainichi | every day |
| まいかい | maikai | every time |
| あした | ashita | tomorrow |
| もう | mou | already |
| まだ | mada | still / not yet |
| さいきん | saikin | these days |
| むかし | mukashi | long time ago |
Frequency adverbs tell you how often something happens. They're essential for expressing daily habits, schedules, or regular activities.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ずっと | zutto | all the time for a long time |
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| たいてい | taitei | usually |
| よく | yoku | often / well |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| たまに | tamani | occasionally |
| あまり | amari | not often |
| ぜんぜん | zenzen | never |
- ずっと is used for continuous or prolonged actions
- いつも can be used positively or negatively
- Instead of maikai you can use -tabini after the verb which is more formal / polite
いま は なんじ ですか？
Ima wa nanji desu ka?
What time is it now?
きのう がっこう に いきません でした。
Kinou gakkou ni ikimasen deshita.
I didn’t go to school yesterday.
あした テスト が あります。
Ashita tesuto ga arimasu.
There is a test tomorrow.
まいにち コーヒー を のみます。
Mainichi koohii o nomimasu.
I drink coffee every day.
もう たべました。
Mou tabemashita.
I already ate.
まだ たべていません。
Mada tabete imasen.
I have not eaten yet.
Manner adverbs describe the way in which an action is carried out. They typically modify verbs and answer the question "how?"
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ゆっくり | yukkuri | slowly / at a relaxed pace |
| すぐに | suguni | immediately |
| ちゃんと | chanto | properly / correctly / neatly |
| こっそり | kossori | secretly / stealthily |
| しっかり | shikkari | firmly / reliably / steadily |
| ぐっすり | gussuri | soundly (e.g., sleep) |
| のんびり | nonbiri | leisurely / laid-back |
| にこにこ | nikoniko | smilingly / with a smile |
| いきなり | ikinari | suddenly / abruptly |
| わざと | wazato | on purpose / deliberately |
Some manner adverbs are adjectives in the adverbial form, such as はやく (quickly) from はやい (fast).
To make an adverb from an adjective, refer to the adjectives lesson.
ゆっくり おねがいします。
Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Slowly, please.
すぐに かえって きて ください。
Suguni kaette kite kudasai.
Please come back immediately.
へや を ちゃんと そうじ しました。
Heya o chanto souji shimashita.
I cleaned the room properly.
まわり を こっそり みました。
Mawari o kossori mimashita.
I looked around secretly.
テスト の まえ に しっかり べんきょう しました。
Tesuto no mae ni shikkari benkyou shimashita.
I studied hard / thoroughly before the test.
Place adverbs indicate location and are used to describe where an action occurs.
Pure location adverbs
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ここ | koko | here |
| そこ | soko | there |
| あそこ | asoko | over there |
| あちこち | achikochi | all over |
Nouns (used with "de")
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| なかで | naka de | inside |
| そとで | soto de | outside |
| うちで | uchi de | at home |
| がいこくで | gaikoku de | abroad |
Bonus: Location words (used with "no")
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| みぎ | migi | right |
| ひだり | hidari | left |
| まえ | mae | in front |
| うしろ | ushiro | behind |
| なか | naka | inside |
| そとで | soto | outside |
| うえ | ue | on / above |
| した | shita | under / below |
| ちかく | chikaku | near |
| となり | tonari | next to |
| あいだ | aida | between |
- Place adverbs usually come before or after particles like に or で, depending on the verb. Don’t confuse place adverbs (eg. そこで) and nouns + location particles (eg. がっこうで).
- Location words are used with [subject] + no [location word] + ni (optional)
ここ で しゃしん を とって も いい ですか？
Koko de shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
Can I take pictures here?
あそこ に レストラン が あります。
Asoko ni resutoran ga arimasu.
There is a restaurant over there.
うちで テレビ を みました。
Uchi de terebi o mimashita.
I watched TV at home.
あちこち あるきました。
Achikochi arukimashita.
I walked around all over the place.
いすの下に ねこが います。
Isu no shita ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat under the chair.
学校の近くに コンビニが あります。
Gakkō no chikaku ni konbini ga arimasu.
There is a convenience store near the school.
These adverbs express the degree of certainty or possibility about an action or situation.
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| かもしれない | kamoshirenai | uncertainty / possibility | |
| たぶん | tabun | probably / maybe | Neutral likelihood |
| きっと | kitto | surely / certainly | Positive, strong conviction |
| もしかしたら | moshikashitara | maybe / perhaps | Lower probability |
| おそらく | osoraku | probably / I suppose | Polite / literary feel |
| ぜったい（に） | zettai (ni) | definitely / absolutely | Strong certainty (often emphatic) |
- These adverbs usually appear before the verb or at the start of the sentence
- たぶん often pairs with 〜でしょう／〜かもしれません
- ぜったい is often used with negation (ぜったいに～ない)
明日は雨かもしれない。
Ashita wa ame kamoshirenai.
It might rain tomorrow.
たぶん、あした は あめ です。
Tabun, ashita wa ame desu.
It will probably rain tomorrow.
きっと、かれ は くる と おもいます。
Kitto, kare wa kuru to omoimasu.
I’m sure he’ll come.
もしかしたら、まちがえた かも しれません。
Moshikashitara, machigaeta kamo shiremasen.
Maybe I made a mistake.
ぜったいに、まけない！
Zettai ni, makenai!
I’ll definitely not lose!
To express "too much", use sugiru / sugimasen (v).
To express "not enough", use tarinai / tarimasen (v).
| Japanese | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 〜すぎる | Too much / overly | Attach to verb/adjective stem |
| 〜たりない | Not enough | Attach to noun or verb in plain form |
- For sugiru, drop the final い from い-adjectives, drop な from な-adjectives, and use the verb stem.
- tarinai is usually used alone instead of being attached
- Both can be conjugated since they are verbs
この ふく は すぎます。
Kono fuku wa sugimasu.
These clothes are too much / too fancy (excessive).
この カレー は からすぎる。
Kono karee wa karasugiru.
This curry is too spicy.
おかね が たりません。
Okane ga tarimasen.
There isn’t enough money.
ねむる じかん が たりない。
Nemuru jikan ga tarinai.
There isn’t enough time to sleep.