A1 Expression Neutral 1 Min. Lesezeit

とても大事

totemo daiji

Very important

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'totemo daiji' to emphasize that something holds significant value or requires immediate attention in your life.

  • Means: Very important or essential.
  • Used in: Expressing priorities, giving advice, or showing appreciation.
  • Don't confuse: 'Daiji' (important) with 'Daijoubu' (okay/fine).
Very (totemo) + Important (daiji) = High Priority

Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:

This phrase means 'very important.' You use it to talk about things you care about, like family or your work. It is easy to use and very helpful for beginners.
It functions as an intensifier for the adjective 'daiji.' It is used to establish priorities in a conversation. You can use it to describe objects, people, or abstract concepts that require attention.
This expression is a staple of Japanese discourse, bridging the gap between casual and formal registers. It is often used to justify actions or decisions by framing them as 'very important' to the speaker's goals or values.
The phrase serves as a pragmatic marker of emphasis. In professional contexts, it helps manage expectations by highlighting critical path items, though it is slightly less formal than 'juuyou.' It effectively conveys the speaker's commitment to a specific task or relationship.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, 'totemo daiji' functions as a hedge against ambiguity. By explicitly labeling an item as 'very important,' the speaker reduces potential friction in collaborative environments, ensuring that the listener understands the hierarchical importance of the information provided.
The phrase encapsulates the Japanese cultural emphasis on 'honne' (true feelings) and 'tatemae' (public facade). By using 'totemo daiji,' one bridges these two, signaling that the subject matter is not merely a social obligation but a genuine priority, thus aligning the speaker's internal values with their external communication strategy.

Bedeutung

To emphasize that something is of great significance or value.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Japanese people often use 'daiji' to show they value a relationship. Saying 'You are important' is a deep compliment. In business, 'daiji' is used to show professional commitment to a task.

💡

Use with 'na'

When using 'totemo daiji' before a noun, always add 'na'. Example: 'totemo daiji na koto'.

💡

Use with 'na'

When using 'totemo daiji' before a noun, always add 'na'. Example: 'totemo daiji na koto'.

Teste dich selbst

Select the correct phrase for 'Very important'.

Which is correct?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: とても大事

'Daiji' means important, 'Daijoubu' means okay, 'Ookii' means big.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

2 Aufgaben
Wähle die richtige Antwort Fill Blank

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Select the correct phrase for 'Very important'. Choose A1

Which is correct?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: とても大事

'Daiji' means important, 'Daijoubu' means okay, 'Ookii' means big.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

Yes, it is very common to say someone is 'totemo daiji'.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

大切 (taisetsu)

synonym

Cherished/Important

Wo du es verwendest

💼

Work Meeting

Boss: この{報告書|ほうこくしょ}は{とても|とても}{大事|だいじ}です。

Employee: {承知|しょうち}しました。

neutral
💡

Giving Advice

Friend: {睡眠|すいみん}は{とても|とても}{大事|だいじ}だよ。

You: {分|わ}かってるよ!

informal

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Daiji' as 'Die-G' (the G is for Great). It's a 'Great' thing!

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine holding a fragile, glowing orb. You are clutching it tightly because it is 'totemo daiji'.

Rhyme

Daiji is the key, for you and for me.

Story

Kenji had a small box. He told his friend, 'This is totemo daiji.' Inside was a photo of his grandmother. He kept it safe every single day.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'very important' in English or 'muy importante' in Spanish. It is a universal way to signal priority.

Word Web

大切 (taisetsu)重要 (juuyou)必要 (hitsuyou)優先 (yuusen)価値 (kachi)守る (mamoru)

Herausforderung

Write down 3 things that are 'totemo daiji' to you in Japanese.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 7 days.

Aussprache

Stress Flat pitch accent.

Clear 't' and 'o' sounds.

The 'j' is like the 'j' in 'judge'.

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
これは非常に重要でございます。

これは非常に重要でございます。 (Expressing importance)

Neutral
これはとても大事です。

これはとても大事です。 (Expressing importance)

Informell
これ、すごく大事だよ。

これ、すごく大事だよ。 (Expressing importance)

Umgangssprache
これ、マジ大事。

これ、マジ大事。 (Expressing importance)

Derived from Buddhist terminology for 'great matters'. It evolved into a secular term for anything of high value.

Edo Period:

Wusstest du?

The kanji '大事' literally translates to 'Big Matter'.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Japanese people often use 'daiji' to show they value a relationship. Saying 'You are important' is a deep compliment.

“あなたは{とても|とても}{大事|だいじ}な{人|ひと}です。”

In business, 'daiji' is used to show professional commitment to a task.

“この{仕事|しごと}は{とても|とても}{大事|だいじ}です。”

Gesprächseinstiege

What is one thing that is 'totemo daiji' to you?

Häufige Fehler

とても大丈夫

とても大事

literal translation
Learners often confuse 'daiji' (important) with 'daijoubu' (okay). They sound similar but mean completely different things.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Muy importante

Japanese requires the 'na' particle when modifying a noun, whereas Spanish uses 'de' or direct adjective placement.

French Very Similar

Très important

French adjectives usually follow the noun, while 'daiji' can be a predicate or a pre-nominal modifier.

German Very Similar

Sehr wichtig

German word order is more flexible, but the core meaning is a direct mapping.

Japanese self

とても大事

N/A

Arabic moderate

مهم جداً (Muhim jiddan)

The word order is reversed compared to Japanese (Adjective + Intensifier vs Intensifier + Adjective).

Spotted in the Real World

🎬

(1988)

“Family is totemo daiji.”

A scene where the father talks to his daughters.

Leicht verwechselbar

とても大事 vs. 大丈夫 (daijoubu)

Similar sound

Daiji = Important, Daijoubu = Okay.

Häufig gestellte Fragen (1)

Yes, it is very common to say someone is 'totemo daiji'.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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