When we want to express something to a high degree in Japanese, we have several options. While words like 「とても」and 「すごく」are very common, 「非常に」is a more formal and slightly stronger adverb. You'll often hear it in news reports, formal speeches, or written contexts. It emphasizes that something is exceptionally or extraordinarily true. For example, if you say 「非常に難しい」, it means it's not just "very difficult" but "extremely difficult," suggesting a higher level of challenge.
The Japanese adverb “非常に” (hijou ni) means “extremely,” “greatly,” or “immensely.” It's used to emphasize the degree or extent of an adjective or another adverb. Think of it like saying “very, very” or “really” in English, but with a slightly more formal and strong nuance.
Japanese Word
非常に (hijou ni)
Word Type
Adverb
CEFR Level
B1
Definition
Extremely; greatly; immensely.
§ Basic Sentence Structure
“非常に” (hijou ni) generally comes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It doesn't require any special particles or prepositions after it. The structure is quite straightforward:
非常に + Adjective
非常に + Adverb
Let's look at some examples to make this clear.
今日は非常に暑いです。
Today is extremely hot.
Here, “非常に” modifies the i-adjective “暑い” (atsui - hot).
それは非常に難しい問題です。
That is an extremely difficult problem.
In this example, “非常に” modifies the i-adjective “難しい” (muzukashii - difficult).
§ Modifying Adverbs
You can also use “非常に” to intensify other adverbs.
彼は非常に細かく説明しました。
He explained it very precisely (literally, “extremely finely”).
Here, “非常に” modifies the adverb “細かく” (komakaku - finely, in detail).
§ 非常に vs. とても (totemo) and すごく (sugoku)
You might be familiar with other adverbs like “とても” (totemo) and “すごく” (sugoku), which also mean “very” or “extremely.” While they share similar meanings, there's a slight difference in nuance and formality.
非常に (hijou ni): More formal and emphasizes a higher degree of extremity. Often used in written language or more formal speech.
とても (totemo): Common and versatile. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
すごく (sugoku): More informal and often used in casual conversation. It can sometimes carry a sense of surprise or emotional emphasis.
§ More Examples
彼は非常に優しい人です。
He is an extremely kind person.
この本は非常に面白いです。
This book is immensely interesting.
その効果は非常に大きいです。
The effect is greatly significant.
Remember to practice using “非常に” in your own sentences to get comfortable with its placement and nuance. It's a useful word for adding strong emphasis to your Japanese expressions.
§ Don't overuse it
Many English speakers learning Japanese tend to overuse adverbs like 非常に (hijou ni) because they are used to saying "very" or "extremely" frequently in English. While 非常に is a perfectly valid word, Japanese often prefers a more understated way of expressing intensity, or uses other words that are more specific to the context.
§ Using it in casual settings
非常に (hijou ni) has a formal and somewhat stiff nuance. Using it in casual conversations with friends or family can sound unnatural or even a bit pompous. For informal situations, there are much more common and natural-sounding alternatives.
DEFINITION
Extremely; greatly; immensely.
Instead of 非常に, consider these alternatives for casual speech:
とても (totemo): This is the most common and versatile word for "very." It's suitable for almost any situation, from casual to somewhat formal.
これはとても難しいです。
(Kore wa totemo muzukashii desu. - This is very difficult.)
すごく (sugoku): This is a very common and slightly more emphatic informal word for "really" or "super." It's often used by younger people.
その映画はすごく面白かった！
(Sono eiga wa sugoku omoshirokatta! - That movie was really interesting!)
めっちゃ (meccha): This is a highly informal, slangy term for "extremely" or "super." It's common among younger generations, especially in Kansai dialect, but widely understood.
今日めっちゃ暑いね。
(Kyou meccha atsui ne. - It's super hot today, isn't it?)
§ Misplacing it in a sentence
While Japanese word order is generally more flexible than English, adverbs like 非常に typically come before the word they modify. Placing it incorrectly can sound awkward or confusing.
非常に興味深い本でした。
(Hijou ni kyoumi bukai hon deshita. - It was an extremely interesting book.)
Here, 非常に comes directly before 興味深い (kyoumi bukai - interesting) to modify it. Putting it after the noun, for instance, would be incorrect.
§ Not understanding its strong impact
非常に (hijou ni) carries a strong sense of gravity and seriousness. It's often used in news reports, formal speeches, or when describing situations of high importance or criticality. If you use it for mundane things, it can sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic.
これは非常に重要な問題です。
(Kore wa hijou ni juuyou na mondai desu. - This is an extremely important issue.)
Using 非常に here conveys the appropriate level of seriousness. If you said, "My coffee is 非常に熱い (hijou ni atsui - extremely hot)," it would sound a bit over-the-top, unless the coffee was literally scalding and a danger to you. For a regular hot coffee, とても熱い (totemo atsui) would be more natural.
In Japanese, there are several ways to express a high degree of something, similar to saying 'very,' 'extremely,' or 'greatly' in English. This lesson focuses on 非常に (hijou ni), an important adverb for B1 level learners.
§ What "非常に" means
Japanese Word
非常に (ひじょうに)
Type
Adverb
CEFR Level
B1
Definition
Extremely; greatly; immensely. It indicates a high degree, often stronger than simply 'very'.
§ How to use "非常に"
非常に (hijou ni) is an adverb, which means it modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. It adds emphasis, making the statement stronger. Think of it as a more formal or objective way to say 'very' or 'really'.
§ Examples with "非常に"
これは非常に重要な問題です。 This is an extremely important problem.
彼のスピーチは非常に感動的でした。 His speech was greatly moving.
その本は非常に読みやすいです。 That book is immensely easy to read.
試験の結果は非常に良かった。 The exam results were extremely good.
§ Similar words and when to use "非常に" vs alternatives
Japanese has many adverbs that express degree. Here's how 非常に compares to some common ones:
とても (totemo): This is the most common and versatile way to say 'very'. It's suitable for almost any situation, informal or formal.
Example
これはとても美味しいです。 (Kore wa totemo oishii desu.) - This is very delicious.
While you could say これは非常に美味しいです (Kore wa hijou ni oishii desu), 非常に adds a slightly more formal or emphatic nuance. For everyday conversations about food, とても is more natural.
すごく (sugoku): This is a more casual and slightly stronger version of とても, often translated as 'really' or 'super'. It's frequently used in spoken Japanese, especially among younger people.
Example
あの映画、すごく面白かったよ！ (Ano eiga, sugoku omoshirokatta yo!) - That movie was really interesting!
You would rarely substitute 非常に for すごく in such a casual sentence unless you wanted to sound extremely formal or make a strong, almost dramatic, point.
大変 (taihen): This also means 'very' or 'greatly'. It can be similar to 非常に in formality and strength, but sometimes carries a nuance of difficulty or seriousness.
Example
この仕事は大変難しい。 (Kono shigoto wa taihen muzukashii.) - This job is very difficult.
Both 非常に難しい and 大変難しい are correct and convey a high degree of difficulty. However, 大変 can sometimes imply 'a lot of trouble' or 'a hard task', which 非常に doesn't necessarily carry.
かなり (kanari): This means 'quite' or 'fairly', indicating a considerable degree, but perhaps not as extreme as 非常に. It suggests a higher degree than 'a little' but not necessarily 'extremely'.
Example
今日の会議はかなり長かった。 (Kyou no kaigi wa kanari nagakatta.) - Today's meeting was quite long.
If the meeting was 'extremely long' to the point of being remarkable or problematic, 非常に would be more appropriate.
Understanding these nuances will help you choose the most appropriate adverb to express degree in Japanese, making your communication more precise and natural.
Wusstest du?
Although '非常に' uses the kanji '非' (not), it doesn't carry a negative connotation itself. Instead, it intensifies the degree of the following adjective or verb.
Beispiele nach Niveau
1
これは非常に難しい問題です。
This is an extremely difficult problem.
「非常に」+ い-adjective
2
彼女は非常に親切な人です。
She is a very kind person.
「非常に」+ な-adjective + noun
3
その映画は非常に面白かったです。
That movie was greatly interesting.
「非常に」+ い-adjective (past tense)
4
彼は非常に速く走ります。
He runs immensely fast.
「非常に」+ adverb
5
この本は非常に役に立ちます。
This book is extremely useful.
「非常に」+ い-adjective
6
今日は非常に暑いです。
Today is extremely hot.
「非常に」+ い-adjective
7
この仕事は非常に重要です。
This job is greatly important.
「非常に」+ な-adjective
8
彼の日本語は非常に上手です。
His Japanese is immensely good.
「非常に」+ な-adjective
1
この問題は非常に複雑なので、専門家の意見を聞く必要があります。
This problem is extremely complex, so we need to hear an expert's opinion.
「非常に〜なので」 (because it is extremely ~)
2
彼女の発表は非常に説得力があり、全員が納得しました。
Her presentation was extremely persuasive, and everyone was convinced.
「非常に〜があり」 (there was extreme ~)
3
彼の新しい小説は非常に評判が良く、ベストセラーになっています。
His new novel has an extremely good reputation and has become a bestseller.
「非常に〜が良く」 (extremely good ~)
4
その計画は非常に困難でしたが、チームはそれを乗り越えました。
That plan was extremely difficult, but the team overcame it.
「非常に〜でしたが」 (although it was extremely ~)
5
この地域は夏には非常に暑くなるので、水分補給が重要です。
This area becomes extremely hot in summer, so hydration is important.
「非常に〜になるので」 (because it becomes extremely ~)
6
その事件は社会に非常に大きな影響を与えました。
That incident had an extremely big impact on society.
「非常に大きな〜」 (extremely big ~)
7
彼は非常に熱心に日本語を勉強しているので、上達が早いです。
He is studying Japanese extremely enthusiastically, so he is improving quickly.
「非常に〜ので」 (because he is extremely ~)
8
このシステムは非常に便利で、作業効率が格段に向上しました。
This system is extremely convenient, and work efficiency has improved remarkably.
「非常に〜で」 (being extremely ~)
Wird oft verwechselt mit
非常にvs全く (まったく)
While 全く can also indicate a high degree, it usually means 'entirely' or 'completely', and often appears with negative verbs to mean 'not at all'.
非常にvsかなり
かなり means 'quite' or 'fairly', indicating a moderate to high degree, but generally less intense than 非常に.
非常にvs大分 (だいぶ)
大分 also means 'quite' or 'considerably', indicating a significant amount or degree, often related to change or progress, but usually not as strong as 非常に.
Leicht verwechselbar
非常にvsとても
Like 非常に, とても also means 'very' or 'extremely'. However, とても is more common in everyday, casual conversation.
とても is generally more casual and can be used in a wider range of contexts, both positive and negative. 非常に tends to be more formal and often implies a higher degree of intensity.
これは**とても**おいしいケーキですね。(This is a **very** delicious cake, isn't it.)
非常にvsすごく
すごく is another common adverb meaning 'very' or 'greatly', and it can often be used interchangeably with とても in casual speech.
すごく is even more casual than とても and can sometimes carry a nuance of surprise or emphasis. It's often used by younger speakers.
あの映画は**すごく**面白かったよ。(That movie was **really** interesting.)
非常にvs大変 (たいへん)
大変 can mean 'very' or 'extremely' when used as an adverb. However, it also has other meanings, such as 'difficult' or 'serious'.
When used as an adverb meaning 'very', 大変 is generally less formal than 非常に but can still convey a strong degree. Its other meanings make it a bit more context-dependent.
今日は**大変**暑いですね。(It's **extremely** hot today, isn't it.)
非常にvs非常に (ひじょうに)
This is the word in question. Learners often confuse it with other adverbs of degree due to similar meanings.
非常に is a more formal and slightly stronger way to say 'very' or 'extremely' compared to とても or すごく. It's frequently used in written Japanese, formal speeches, and when you want to emphasize a high degree of something.
この問題は**非常に**重要です。(This problem is **extremely** important.)
非常にvs甚だ (はなはだ)
甚だ also means 'very' or 'extremely', but it is a much more archaic and formal word, not commonly used in modern everyday Japanese.
甚だ is highly formal and rarely used in spoken Japanese today. It often appears in older texts or very formal writing. 非常に is formal but still quite common.
彼の態度は**甚だ**遺憾であった。(His attitude was **extremely** regrettable.)
Wortherkunft
Compound of '非' (hi, 'not') and '常' (tsune, 'normal/ordinary').
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Not normal; out of the ordinary. This evolved to mean 'extremely' or 'unusually' as it refers to something that deviates significantly from the norm.
Sino-Japanese (kango)
Kultureller Kontext
When learning Japanese, you'll encounter various ways to express 'very' or 'extremely.' 非常に is a more formal and somewhat stiffer way to say it compared to とても (totemo) or すごく (sugoku). You'll often hear it in news reports, formal speeches, or written language. While とても can be used in almost any situation, 非常に adds a sense of gravity or elevated importance to what's being described.
'非常に' (hijō ni) is placed before the adjective '難しかった' (muzukashikatta - was difficult) to emphasize the degree of difficulty.
writing
B2
Imagine you are describing a recent event or experience that was incredibly impactful. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) using "非常に" to emphasize the intensity of what you experienced. For example, if you attended a concert, you might describe how "非常に感動しました" (I was extremely moved).
Well written!Good try! Check the sample answer below.
You are writing a review for a product or service. Use "非常に" to express strong positive or negative feelings about it. Be specific about what made you feel that way. For example, if you liked a restaurant, you could say "料理が非常に美味しかったです" (The food was extremely delicious).
Well written!Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a short email to a friend or colleague explaining a difficult situation you encountered. Use "非常に" to convey the seriousness or challenging nature of the situation. For instance, "プロジェクトが非常に複雑で、解決に時間がかかりそうです" (The project is extremely complex and will likely take a long time to resolve).
Well written!Good try! Check the sample answer below.
