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Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "大丈夫", "ぜひ", "是非", "ことごとく"

All represent the core concept "all", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

大丈夫

だいじょうぶ (daijōbu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B

ぜひ

ぜひ (zehi)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C

是非

ぜひ (zehi)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D

ことごとく

ことごとく (kotogotoku)
N3 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "all" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "大丈夫", "ぜひ", "是非", "ことごとく" based on context.
  • 大丈夫 (だいじょうぶ (daijōbu) - Level: N5): Maps to "all right, okay, no problem" and is used when An な-adjective. Used to confirm safety, well-being, or acceptability. Can also be used to refuse politely..
  • ぜひ (ぜひ (zehi) - Level: N5): Maps to "by all means, definitely, without fail" and is used when An adverb used to express strong desire, request, or recommendation. It often accompanies verbs expressing invitation or desire..
  • 是非 (ぜひ (zehi) - Level: N3): Maps to "by all means, definitely, without fail" and is used when Expresses a strong desire or request, often used with ください.
  • ことごとく (ことごとく (kotogotoku) - Level: N3): Maps to "all, entirely, without exception" and is used when An adverb meaning 'completely' or 'everything without exception'. It implies that nothing was left out. Can be used for positive or negative outcomes, often used in more formal or literary contexts..
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
Context for "大丈夫"
転んでしまいましたが、大丈夫です。
I fell down, but I'm okay.
Context for "ぜひ"
ぜひ日本に来てください。
Please come to Japan by all means.
Context for "是非"
今度、ぜひ私の家にも遊びに来てください。
Please do come visit my house next time, by all means.
Context for "ことごとく"
彼の計画はことごとく失敗に終わった。
All his plans ended in failure.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "転んでしまいましたが、 ___ です。" (Meaning: "I fell down, but I'm okay.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "大丈夫" is correct here because it represents "all right, okay, no problem" in the context: "I fell down, but I'm okay.".

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