Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Lot" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "lot", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ずいぶん
ずいぶん (zuibun)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
たんまり
たんまり (tanmari)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "lot" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ずいぶん and たんまり.
In Japanese, ずいぶん (ずいぶん (zuibun)) is typically associated with "a lot; very; quite; extremely; considerably" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents 予想以上に物事の程度が大きいときに使われる副詞。驚きや感嘆のニュアンスを含むことが多い。/ An adverb used when the degree of something is unexpectedly large. It often includes nuances of surprise or admiration..
On the other hand, たんまり (たんまり (tanmari)) maps to "a lot, in large quantities, heaps of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An informal expression indicating a generous or excessive amount. Often implies 'more than enough' or 'plenty.'. A literal translation of "lot" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ずいぶん"
久しぶりに会ったら、彼はずいぶん背が高くなっていた。
When I met him after a long time, he had grown considerably taller.
Bilingual Context for "たんまり"
祖母の家に行くと、いつもたんまりお菓子をもらえる。
When I go to my grandmother's house, I always get a lot of sweets.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "久しぶりに会ったら、彼は ＿＿＿ 背が高くなっていた。" (Meaning: "When I met him after a long time, he had grown considerably taller.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ずいぶん" fits here because it means "a lot; very; quite; extremely; considerably" in the context of: "When I met him after a long time, he had grown considerably taller.". "たんまり" represents "a lot, in large quantities, heaps of".