Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
なかなか
なかなか (nakanaka)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
いたって
いたって (itatte)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between なかなか and いたって.
In Japanese, なかなか (なかなか (nakanaka)) is typically associated with "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.
On the other hand, いたって (いたって (itatte)) maps to "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.. A literal translation of "very" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
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.
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "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。" (Meaning: "Because the cause of the initial loading delay bug of the system was complex, even the senior engineer could not easily find a solution.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "なかなか" fits here because it means "very; considerably; easily (with negative); more than expected" in the context of: "Because the cause of the initial loading delay bug of the system was complex, even the senior engineer could not easily find a solution.". "いたって" represents "Very, extremely, to the utmost".