Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いたって
いたって (itatte)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
はなはだ
はなはだ (hanahada)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いたって and はなはだ.
In Japanese, いたって (いたって (itatte)) is typically associated with "Very, extremely, to the utmost" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An adverb emphasizing the degree of something, meaning 'extremely' or 'very.' Often used to describe something surprisingly or unexpectedly simple, normal, or good, contrasting with potential expectations..
On the other hand, はなはだ (はなはだ (hanahada)) maps to "very, greatly (negative)" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "very" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いたって"
彼の病状はいたって安定している。
His condition is extremely stable.
Bilingual Context for "はなはだ"
私ははなはだに興味があります。
I am interested in very, greatly (negative).
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼の病状は ＿＿＿ 安定している。" (Meaning: "His condition is extremely stable.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いたって" fits here because it means "Very, extremely, to the utmost" in the context of: "His condition is extremely stable.". "はなはだ" represents "very, greatly (negative)".