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
ぺこぺこ
ぺこぺこ (pekopeko)
B1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とても and ぺこぺこ.
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, ぺこぺこ (ぺこぺこ (pekopeko)) maps to "very hungry" (Syllabus Level: B1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B1 vocabulary syllabus.. 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 "ぺこぺこ"
私はぺこぺこに興味があります。
I am interested in very hungry.
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.". "ぺこぺこ" represents "very hungry".