Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Very" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "very", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
非常に
ひじょうに (hijō ni)
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 非常に and いとも.
In Japanese, 非常に (ひじょうに (hijō ni)) is typically associated with "very, extremely, exceedingly" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents An adverb used to express a high degree of something. More formal and stronger than 'とても.
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 "非常に"
この問題は非常に難しいです。
This problem is extremely difficult.
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: "この問題は ＿＿＿ 難しいです。" (Meaning: "This problem is extremely difficult.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "非常に" fits here because it means "very, extremely, exceedingly" in the context of: "This problem is extremely difficult.". "いとも" represents "very, extremely (archaic/literary, often used with adjectives like 簡単, 容易, たやすい)".