Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いとも
いとも (itomo)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
多忙
たぼう (tabou)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いとも and 多忙.
In Japanese, いとも (いとも (itomo)) is typically associated with "very, extremely (archaic/literary, often used with adjectives like 簡単, 容易, たやすい)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An old-fashioned or literary adverb emphasizing 'very' or 'exceedingly.' It often adds a sense of ease or simplicity and usually precedes an adjective..
On the other hand, 多忙 (たぼう (tabou)) maps to "very busy, extremely busy" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents A formal or polite way to say 'very busy.' Often used in business contexts or when speaking about someone's demanding schedule. Can be used with 'ご' as in 'ご多忙のところ恐縮ですが...'. A literal translation of "very" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いとも"
その問題はいとも簡単に解決した。
That problem was solved with extreme ease.
Bilingual Context for "多忙"
最近、仕事で多忙な日々を送っています。
Recently, I have been spending very busy days at work.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "その問題は ＿＿＿ 簡単に解決した。" (Meaning: "That problem was solved with extreme ease.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いとも" fits here because it means "very, extremely (archaic/literary, often used with adjectives like 簡単, 容易, たやすい)" in the context of: "That problem was solved with extreme ease.". "多忙" represents "very busy, extremely busy".