Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Entirely" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "entirely", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
まったく
まったく (mattaku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
専ら
もっぱら (moppara)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "entirely" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between まったく and 専ら.
In Japanese, まったく (まったく (mattaku)) is typically associated with "entirely; truly; indeed; (not) at all (with negative)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Can be used with positive meanings like "truly" or "really," but very frequently used with negative verbs/adjectives to mean "not at all" or "completely." E.g., 「まったくわからない」.
On the other hand, 専ら (もっぱら (moppara)) maps to "entirely, wholly, solely, mostly, exclusively" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Indicates that something is done primarily, exclusively, or almost entirely for a particular reason or by a particular means. あることだけが主な理由や手段であることを強調する。. A literal translation of "entirely" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "まったく"
彼の話は、私にはまったく理解できませんでした。
I couldn't understand his story at all.
Bilingual Context for "専ら"
最近の彼の関心は専らアニメだ。
Recently, his interest is exclusively in anime.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼の話は、私には ＿＿＿ 理解できませんでした。" (Meaning: "I couldn't understand his story at all.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "まったく" fits here because it means "entirely; truly; indeed; (not) at all (with negative)" in the context of: "I couldn't understand his story at all.". "専ら" represents "entirely, wholly, solely, mostly, exclusively".