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
多忙
たぼう (tabou)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "very" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 非常に and 多忙.
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, 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 "非常に"
この問題は非常に難しいです。
This problem is extremely difficult.
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: "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.". "多忙" represents "very busy, extremely busy".