Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
大変
たいへん (taihen)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
ずいぶん
ずいぶん (zuibun)
A2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 大変 and ずいぶん.
In Japanese, 大変 (たいへん (taihen)) is typically associated with "very, terribly; difficult, tough; serious, awful" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Can function as an adverb.
On the other hand, ずいぶん (ずいぶん (zuibun)) maps to "very, quite" (Syllabus Level: A2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR A2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "very" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "大変"
日本語の勉強は大変ですが、楽しいです。
Studying Japanese is difficult, but fun.
Bilingual Context for "ずいぶん"
私はずいぶんに興味があります。
I am interested in very, quite.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "日本語の勉強は ＿＿＿ ですが、楽しいです。" (Meaning: "Studying Japanese is difficult, but fun.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大変" fits here because it means "very, terribly; difficult, tough; serious, awful" in the context of: "Studying Japanese is difficult, but fun.". "ずいぶん" represents "very, quite".