副詞. Words that typically modify 用言 (words that inflect and function as predicators, such as verbs and adjectives). However, 副詞 also modify other constituents, including other adverbs, nouns (under limited circumstances), and even entire sentences.
Questions tagged [adverbs]
271 questions
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全然 {ぜんぜん} with positive adjective / na-adjective
In Japanese classes, I was taught that 全然 can only be used with negative-meaning words/phrases/clauses, for example:
全然出来ません
全然だめです
However, I've observed that, especially in spoken Japanese, some positive na-adjectives are allowed to follow 全然…
Lukman
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versus +と versus +に
I often see adverbs used in one of three ways:
1) Adverb appears in isolation in a sentence:
あまり 好きじゃないんですが。
2) Adverb is followed by に
別々に お願いします。
1970年代後半、多くの罪もない日本の一般市民が 次々に 失踪した。
3) Adverb is followed by と
鮮明な花火が夜空に 次々と 揚がった。
Notice that…
Zach
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19
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とっても versus とても
I've had a teacher flatly tell me that とっても is incorrect, but I do see it written here and there and I'm pretty sure I hear it as well. Is it just so informal relative to とても that I should never use it in a classroom or on schoolwork?
Garrett Albright
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19
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What's the proper way to use 先 versus 前に or 以前?
I'm trying to understand why 先 is not the best choice to use in these sentences. Is it wrong to use it in this way?
× 先、学校で何かが起こった。
○ 以前、学校で何かが起こった。
× 先の書いた本から十年間が過ぎました。
○ 前に書いた本から十年間が過ぎました。
Louis Waweru
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19
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Difference between これから、いまから
What is the difference between これから and いまから？ Both seem to have the meaning of 'from now on'.
これから、食べます。
いまから、食べます。
Do the sentences above carry the same meaning?
user743
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16
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2 answers
When to use 「とにかく」 and when to use 「とりあえず」?
This is a variant of the top definition question @ Area51: http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/7526/japanese-language-usage/7529#7529
When to use 「とにかく」 and when to use 「とりあえず」? I have heard both adverbs used in similar sentences so I'm…
Lukman
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16
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1 answer
Is there a difference between ほんとう (hontō) and ほんとうに (hontō-ni) when used alone as interjection or question?
As the equivalent of Enlgish "Oh really?" / "Yes really." as lone utterances I seem to hear both "本当" (hontō) and "本当に" (hontō-ni) in Japanese - is there a difference?
It seems that hontō is a noun and -ni changes it into an adverb but that this…
hippietrail
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14
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1 answer
What's the difference between ちゃんと, きちんと, きっちり and ぴったり?
The four of ちゃんと, きちんと, きっちり and ぴったり all seem to mean something like "perfectly", "precisely" or "exactly", and there seems to be a lot of similarity between their definitions.
Daijisen says that all three of ちゃんと, きちんと and きっちり can mean something…
cypher
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14
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1 answer
Difference between 普段 and 通常
What are the differences in use between 普段{ふだん} and 通常{つうじょう}?
I'd written
カラオケもですね？通常どんな曲{きょく}を歌{うた}いますか？
which was then corrected to
カラオケもですね？普段どんな曲を歌いますか？
What is the general distinction?
Ontic
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13
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2 answers
Can placements of adverbs be altered freely? 少なくとも週に一度車を洗う vs 週に少なくとも一度車を洗う
I'm curious if there is any difference in nuance between these two sentences:
彼は少なくとも週に一度車を洗う。
彼は週に少なくとも一度車を洗う。
I'm aware that grammatically speaking both are 100% right, but this question is not targeted at this issue.
Pacerier
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12
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3 answers
Question about grammar, how to say "today I am returning to japan"
Today while I was self studying my Japanese textbook, I noticed this sentence which was translated roughly from "today I am returning to japan"
わたしは 今日 日本 に かえります。
This seemed a bit odd to me since it didn't really sound that great following up
今日…
Blue
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12
votes
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What's the difference between ぜひ and きっと when inviting someone to do something?
You can say for example
ぜひパーティーにいらしてね
そのうちまた是非お出かけください
「今晩お伺いしてもいいですか」「ぜひどうぞ」
and
きっと来てくださいね
きっと訪ねて来てください
I would translate both ぜひ and きっと in these sentences with "by all means", but I'm sure (as always), there's a nuance in meaning when you…
Tobias
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11
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3 answers
Explain the meaning of という or と + いう?
Here is the sentence: それは改良を必要としますが、すぐにということではありません。
I can't understand this part: すぐに_Adverb + という_Particle? + こと_Noun + では_DEWA + ありません_Verb.
I know that という is an expression "said; called thus", but what is it doing here and what connection does…
minerals
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Meaning of 果たして?
果たして、遺産を独り占めするためだけに、それだけのことを兄さんがやってのけるのか、わしも確信は持てん。
I'll translate it roughly as "I don't think he will go that far just to have the inheritance for himself."
However, I don't understand the 果たして part: it seems that it can be a way of saying "as…
Ushiromiya
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11
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Meaning and usage of やっぱり (矢っ張り)
I got "As expected" is the meaning of this word from Google Translate (is it correct?) and I guess this word is used in casual conversation (what is the polite version?).
I would like to know it's meaning and usage(both is casual and formal…
MD TAREQ HASSAN
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