Japanese - Adverbs
Japanese adverbs (副詞 - fukushi) modify verbs, adjectives (both i-adjectives and na-adjectives), or other adverbs, and generally provide information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action or state occurs.
The good news is that, unlike verbs and i-adjectives, adverbs do not conjugate. However, adverbs are formed in several different ways, so the complexity lies in their structure and origin.
Here is a breakdown of the four main types and uses of Japanese adverbs:
1. Primary (True) Adverbs
These are words that exist solely as adverbs. They often express frequency, certainty, or degree. They are simply placed before the word they modify.
| Adverb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| いつも (itsumo) | always | 彼は いつも 遅刻する (kare wa itsumo chikoku suru - He always is late.) |
| ぜんぜん (zenzen) | not at all | 私は ぜんぜん 日本語が わからない (watashi wa zenzen wakaranai - I don't understand Japanese at all.) |
| たぶん (tabun) | perhaps, probably | たぶん 明日は 雨でしょう (tabun ashita wa ame deshō - Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.) |
| もっと (motto) | more | もっと 速く 走って (motto hayaku hashitte - Run more quickly.) |
2. Adverbs formed from I-Adjectives
I-adjectives can easily be converted into adverbs by changing the final い to く (ku). This is the equivalent of adding "-ly" in English (e.g., quick → quickly).
| I-Adjective (Meaning) | Adverb Form | Meaning | Example Use (Modifying a verb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 速い (hayai - fast) | 速く (hayaku) | quickly | 速く 走る (hayaku hashiru - to run quickly) |
| 難しい (muzukashii - difficult) | 難しく (muzukashiku) | in a difficult manner | 難しく 考える (muzukashiku kangaeru - to think deeply/hard) |
| 安い (yasui - cheap) | 安く (yasuku) | cheaply | 安く 買う (yasuku kau - to buy cheaply) |
3. Adverbs formed from Na-Adjectives
Na-adjectives can be converted into adverbs by adding the particle に (ni) to the base form.
| Na-Adjective (Meaning) | Adverb Form | Meaning | Example Use (Modifying a verb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 静か (shizuka - quiet) | 静かに (shizuka ni) | quietly | 静かに 座る (shizuka ni suwaru - to sit quietly) |
| 簡単 (kantan - simple/easy) | 簡単に (kantan ni) | simply/easily | 簡単に 説明する (kantan ni setsumei suru - to explain simply) |
| 真面目 (majime - serious) | 真面目に (majime ni) | seriously | 真面目に 働く (majime ni hataraku - to work seriously) |
4. Onomatopoeic and Mimetic Adverbs
Japanese uses a massive number of adverbs to describe sounds (onomatopoeia) or states/manners (mimesis). These words often consist of a duplicated syllable (reduplication).
-
Onomatopoeia (Sound): Describing a sound
- わんわん (wanwan): 犬が わんわん 吠える (The dog barks "woof woof")
- ごろごろ (gorogoro): 雷が ごろごろ 鳴る (The thunder rumbling)
-
Mimesis (Manner/State): Describing a feeling or manner
- きらきら (kirakira): 星が きらきら 光る (The stars twinkle)
- うろうろ (urouro): 彼は うろうろ 歩く (He walks aimlessly)
These words, when used as adverbs, are often followed by the particle と (to) or に (ni), although many can be used alone.
Summary of Adverb Formation
| Base Word | Transformation | Adverb Example |
|---|---|---|
| I-Adjective | Drop い, add く | 早い (early) → 早く (early/quickly) |
| Na-Adjective | Add に | きれい (pretty) → きれいに (prettily/cleanly) |
| Noun | Add に or と | 急 (hurry) → 急に (suddenly/in a hurry) |
| True Adverbs | No change | いつも (always), たぶん (probably) |