Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Particularly" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "particularly", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
取り立てて
とりたてて (toritatete)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
特段
とくだん (tokudan)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "particularly" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 取り立てて and 特段.
In Japanese, 取り立てて (とりたてて (toritatete)) is typically associated with "particularly; especially; (not) notably" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Often used in negative sentences.
On the other hand, 特段 (とくだん (tokudan)) maps to "particularly, especially, nothing in particular (when negated)" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Emphasizes that something is special or extraordinary. Often used in negative sentences to mean "nothing in particular". A literal translation of "particularly" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "取り立てて"
取り立てて問題はない。
There is no particular problem.
Bilingual Context for "特段"
今日は特段変わったことは何もなかった。
There was nothing particularly unusual today.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ___ 問題はない。" (Meaning: "There is no particular problem.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "取り立てて" fits here because it means "particularly; especially; (not) notably" in the context of: "There is no particular problem.". "特段" represents "particularly, especially, nothing in particular (when negated)".