Common Adverbs

Here are the most common Japanese adverbs, grouped by what they do. Our complete guide to Japanese adverbs goes deeper with more examples and usage notes.

Adverbs of Frequency

How often something happens:

Adverb	Reading	Meaning	Polarity
毎日(まいにち)	まいにち	every day	+
毎週(まいしゅう)	まいしゅう	every week	+
いつも	いつも	always	+
よく	よく	often	+
大抵(たいてい)	たいてい	usually	+
ときどき	ときどき	sometimes	+
あまり	あまり	not often	−
全然(ぜんぜん)	ぜんぜん	not at all	−

あまり and 全然(ぜんぜん) are negative adverbs. They always pair with a negative verb:

あまり食(た)べない (don't eat much)
全然(ぜんぜん)わからない (don't understand at all)

Adverbs of Degree

How much of a quality something has:

Adverb	Reading	Meaning
とても	とても	very
すごく	すごく	really (casual)
ちょっと	ちょっと	a little
少(すこ)し	すこし	a little (slightly more formal)

Adverbs of Quantity

How much of something:

Adverb	Reading	Meaning
たくさん	たくさん	many, a lot
少(すこ)し	すこし	a few, a little

These go before the object or before the verb:

たくさん写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)りました。 (I took lots of photos.)
写真(しゃしん)を少(すこ)し撮(と)りました。 (I took a few photos.)

Example Sentences

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Speed

毎週(まいしゅう)うどんを食(た)べます。

I eat udon every week.

彼女(かのじょ)はあまりテレビを見(み)ない。

She doesn't watch TV much.

この海(うみ)はとてもきれいです。

This sea is very beautiful.

このカレーはちょっと辛(から)いです。

This curry is a little spicy.

いつも七時(しちじ)に起(お)きます。

I always get up at seven.

時々(ときどき)映画(えいが)を見(み)に行(い)きます。

I sometimes go to see a film.

もう少(すこ)し待(ま)ってください。

Please wait a little longer.

彼(かれ)はぜんぜん勉強(べんきょう)しません。

He doesn't study at all.