とても

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

Let's learn about the Japanese word とても (totemo). This is a really common and useful word, so understanding it well will help you a lot in your Japanese studies.

DEFINITION

とても (totemo) means "very" or "extremely." It's an adverb that modifies adjectives and other adverbs to intensify their meaning. You'll hear and use this word a lot in everyday conversations.

Think of it like saying "really" or "super" in English. When you want to emphasize how much of something there is or how strong a feeling is, とても is your go-to word. It's usually placed directly before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

§ Examples of とても in action

Here are some common situations where you'd use とても:

• To describe feelings: When you're happy, sad, tired, etc., you can use とても to express the intensity of that feeling.
• To describe qualities: If something is beautiful, delicious, difficult, or easy, you can use とても to emphasize these qualities.
• To describe states or conditions: For example, if it's very hot or very cold.

Let's look at some examples:

Here, とても comes before the i-adjective 面白い (omoshiroi, interesting) to say that the book isn't just interesting, but *very* interesting.

In this case, とても modifies the na-adjective きれい (kirei, beautiful/clean).

Here, it emphasizes the intensity of the heat from yesterday.

§ Important things to remember

While とても is versatile, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• It's generally used with positive or neutral adjectives. While you *can* technically use it with negative adjectives (e.g., とても悲しい - totemo kanashii, very sad), other intensifiers might sound more natural in certain negative contexts, or とても might imply a more objective observation of the sadness rather than strong personal feeling. However, for A2 learners, it's safe to use with negative adjectives too.
• You'll often hear it in polite and casual speech.
• It's a common word, so don't be afraid to use it to express strong feelings or descriptions.

So, to sum it up, とても is a fundamental word for adding emphasis in Japanese. Practice using it with different adjectives and adverbs to make your sentences more expressive. You'll find it incredibly useful in your daily Japanese conversations.

§ Understanding とても (totemo)

The Japanese adverb とても (totemo) is a fundamental word you'll use frequently. It means "very" or "extremely." It's straightforward to use, but knowing its common grammatical patterns will help you sound more natural.

§ とても (totemo) with Adjectives

This is the most common use of とても. You place とても directly before an adjective to intensify its meaning. It works with both い-adjectives and な-adjectives.

DEFINITION

とても + い-adjective (e.g., 寒い samui - cold)

HINT

Today is very cold.

DEFINITION

とても + な-adjective + です/だ (e.g., 綺麗 kirei - beautiful)

HINT

She is very beautiful.

§ とても (totemo) with Verbs

While less common than with adjectives, とても can also modify verbs to emphasize the extent of an action or feeling. In these cases, it often translates to "very much" or "a lot."

DEFINITION

とても + Verb

HINT

This book is very interesting (lit. interesting very much).

HINT

I like him very much.

In the second example, 好き (suki) is often categorized as a な-adjective, but it functions like a verb here, expressing a strong liking. とても works well in such contexts to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.

§ とても (totemo) in Negative Sentences

This is an important point. When とても is used in a negative sentence, it often takes on the meaning of "not at all" or "not easily/possibly." This is because とても implies an extreme, so in the negative, it denies that extreme possibility.

DEFINITION

とても + Negative form

HINT

This is not tasty at all. / This is really not delicious.

HINT

That problem is not easy at all. / That problem is by no means simple.

§ とても (totemo) with Nouns

You generally don't use とても directly with nouns in the same way you do with adjectives. If you want to say "a very good person" or "a very interesting book," とても will still modify the adjective describing the noun, not the noun itself.

• Incorrect: とても人 (totemo hito)

• Correct: とても良い人 (totemo yoi hito - a very good person)

In the correct example, とても modifies 良い (yoi - good), which then describes 人 (hito - person).

§ Common Phrases with とても (totemo)

Here are a few common expressions where とても fits in naturally:

HINT

I'm very glad you're well.

HINT

This is very useful.

Mastering とても is a quick win for sounding more expressive in Japanese. Pay close attention to its use in negative sentences, as that's where learners often make mistakes. Practice using it with various adjectives and some common verbs, and you'll get the hang of it quickly.

§ Understanding とても (totemo)

The Japanese word とても (totemo) is an adverb that means 'very' or 'extremely'. It's a foundational word for expressing intensity, and you'll hear it a lot in everyday conversation. Think of it as a direct equivalent to 'very' in English.

You can use とても to modify adjectives and other adverbs, boosting their intensity. It's a versatile word that fits into many different contexts.

§ How to use とても

The structure is simple: とても + adjective or とても + adverb. Let's look at some examples: