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
いとも
いとも (itomo)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between なかなか and いとも.
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, いとも (いとも (itomo)) maps to "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.. 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 "いとも"
その問題はいとも簡単に解決した。
That problem was solved with extreme ease.
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.". "いとも" represents "very, extremely (archaic/literary, often used with adjectives like 簡単, 容易, たやすい)".