Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
一生懸命
いっしょうけんめい (isshoukenmei)
N4 / 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 一生懸命 and 多忙.
In Japanese, 一生懸命 (いっしょうけんめい (isshoukenmei)) is typically associated with "very hard, with all one's might, diligently" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An adverb used to express putting maximum effort into something. Often used with verbs like 勉強する.
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 "一生懸命"
彼は一生懸命日本語を勉強しています。
He is studying Japanese very hard.
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: "彼は ＿＿＿ 日本語を勉強しています。" (Meaning: "He is studying Japanese very hard.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "一生懸命" fits here because it means "very hard, with all one's might, diligently" in the context of: "He is studying Japanese very hard.". "多忙" represents "very busy, extremely busy".