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
多忙
たぼう (tabou)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とても and 多忙.
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, 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 "とても"
この映画はとても面白いです。
This movie is very interesting.
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: "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.". "多忙" represents "very busy, extremely busy".