Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
とても
とても (totemo)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
なかなか
なかなか (nakanaka)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とても and なかなか.
In Japanese, とても (とても (totemo)) is typically associated with "very, extremely" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents 形容詞や動詞の程度を強調する副詞です。肯定文でよく使われます。.
On the other hand, なかなか (なかなか (nakanaka)) maps to "very; considerably; easily (with negative); more than expected" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to a situation being highly considerably, more than expected, or with negative verbs, expresses that something does not happen easily. A literal translation of "very" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "とても"
この映画はとても面白いです。
This movie is very interesting.
Bilingual Context for "なかなか"
システムの初期ローディング遅延のバグ原因は複雑であり、シニアエンジニアであっても_______解決策が見出せませんでした。
Because the cause of the initial loading delay bug of the system was complex, even the senior engineer could not easily find a solution.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この映画は ＿＿＿ 面白いです。" (Meaning: "This movie is very interesting.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とても" fits here because it means "very, extremely" in the context of: "This movie is very interesting.". "なかなか" represents "very; considerably; easily (with negative); more than expected".