Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
大いに
おおいに (ōini)
N3 / 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 大いに and 多忙.
In Japanese, 大いに (おおいに (ōini)) is typically associated with "very; greatly; largely; much; to a large extent" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents An adverb emphasizing a large degree or extent. Often used in formal or literary contexts, but also in daily conversation to express strong feelings or enthusiasm..
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 "大いに"
彼の意見は大いに参考になった。
His opinion was very helpful.
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: "彼の意見は ＿＿＿ 参考になった。" (Meaning: "His opinion was very helpful.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大いに" fits here because it means "very; greatly; largely; much; to a large extent" in the context of: "His opinion was very helpful.". "多忙" represents "very busy, extremely busy".