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 | every day | + |
| 毎週 | 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 | usually | + |
| ときどき | ときどき | sometimes | + |
| あまり | あまり | not often | − |
| 全然 | ぜんぜん | not at all | − |
あまり and 全然 are negative adverbs. They always pair with a negative verb:
- あまり食べない (don't eat much)
- 全然わからない (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 |
| 少し | すこし | a few, a little |
These go before the object or before the verb:
- たくさん写真を撮りました。 (I took lots of photos.)
- 写真を少し撮りました。 (I took a few photos.)
Example Sentences
毎週うどんを食べます。
I eat udon every week.
彼女はあまりテレビを見ない。
She doesn't watch TV much.
この海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いです。
This curry is a little spicy.