副詞 II

あくまで個人こじん的てきな意見いけんです。

This is purely a personal opinion.

Usage あくまで〜だ, limiting the scope of a claim; and あくまで戦う, fighting to the last. The first is far more common in writing.

Remember it 飽く (to the full) + まで → carried to the full extent, and no further than stated.

いかに努力どりょくしても結果けっかが出でない。

However hard I try, the results do not come.

Usage いかに〜ても — however much. Also いかに〜か, how very. Written register, more formal than どんなに.

Remember it 如何 (in what manner) → asking 'how much', and answering 'no matter how much'.

いかにせよ早急さっきゅうな対応たいおうが必要ひつようだ。

In any case, a prompt response is needed.

Usage いかにせよ — whatever the case. It opens a sentence and leads to a conclusion that does not change. Written. Close to いずれにせよ.

Remember it 如何 (however) + せよ (let it be) → let it be however it likes.

いざという時ときに頼たよりになる人ひとだ。

He is someone you can rely on when it really matters.

Usage いざという時 — when the crunch comes — is the common phrase. いざ〜となると means when it actually comes to doing it.

Remember it いざ → the word you say as you step up to the thing itself.

迷まようくらいなら、いっそやめてしまおう。

If I am going to dither, I may as well give it up altogether.

Usage 〜くらいなら、いっそ〜 — rather than that, better to go the whole way. It chooses the more drastic option for the sake of finality.

Remember it いっそ → since half measures will not do, take the whole step.

原因げんいんはいまだに分わかっていない。

The cause is still not known.

Usage いまだに〜ない — still not, even now. Almost always negative, with a note of impatience. Also written 未だに.

Remember it 未 (not yet) + だに → not yet, even at this late point.

昨日きのうとはうって変かわって穏おだやかな天気てんきだ。

In complete contrast to yesterday, the weather is mild.

Usage 〜とはうって変わって — utterly unlike before. It always takes とは. The point is the abruptness of the contrast.

Remember it 打つ (strike) + 変わる (change) → changed as though struck into a different shape.

そんな条件じょうけんはおいそれと飲のめない。

I cannot accept terms like that just like that.

Usage おいそれと〜ない — not readily. It always takes a negative, and that is exactly what the exam tests. It implies the matter needs thought.

Remember it おいそれ → answering 'yes, right away' — which is just what you cannot do.

今年ことしの作柄さくがらは押おしなべて良好りょうこうだ。

This year's harvest is good across the board.

Usage 押しなべて — generally, evenly over the whole. Written register. Close to 総じて. From 押す plus なべる, to level off.

Remember it 押す (press) + なべる (level) → pressed flat so the whole is taken at one level.

総そうじて評価ひょうかは高たかかった。

On the whole the assessment was favourable.

Usage 総じて — generally, taking it as a whole. It opens a clause. Written, common in reports. Read そうじて.

Remember it 総 (all together) → summing the whole before judging.

散歩さんぽがてら郵便局ゆうびんきょくに寄よった。

I called in at the post office while out for a walk.

Usage 〜がてら — doing B while you are about A. It attaches to a noun or a ます stem. More formal and more written than ついでに.

Remember it がてら → the second errand folded into the first.

社内しゃないきっての論客ろんきゃくだ。

He is the foremost debater in the company.

Usage 〜きっての — the leading one within a given field. It sits between the noun naming the field and the noun it describes: 日本きっての, the best in Japan.

Remember it 切る (cut out) + の → cut out from the rest of the field.

部屋へやをくまなく探さがしたが見みつからない。

I searched every corner of the room but cannot find it.

Usage くまなく探す, くまなく照らす — leaving no corner out. 隈 is a shadowed corner. Also written 隈なく.

Remember it 隈 (shadowed corner) + なく → with no corner left in shadow.

叱しかられてもけろりとしている。

Even when told off, he is quite unruffled.

Usage けろりとしている — as if nothing had happened. Also けろっと. It describes an unconcern that surprises the onlooker.

Remember it けろりと → the face that shows no trace of what just happened.

さぞお疲つかれでしょう。

You must be very tired.

Usage さぞ〜だろう / でしょう — surely, no doubt. It always ends in a conjecture, which is the tested point. Used in sympathy with another person.

Remember it さぞ → the word that leans forward into a guess about how it must feel.

会場かいじょうはさながら祭まつりのようだった。

The venue was just like a festival.

Usage さながら〜のようだ — exactly as though. It pairs with ようだ or みたいだ. Written and vivid.

Remember it さながら → as it stands, it might as well be the other thing.

自分じぶんのため、しいては会社かいしゃのためになる。

It is for your own good, and by extension for the company's.

Usage しいては — and beyond that. It links a near benefit to a wider one. Also written 延いては. Written register.

Remember it 延く (extend) → the benefit extended one circle wider.

じきに雨あめも止やむだろう。

The rain will stop before long.

Usage じきに — shortly. Colloquial, close to もうすぐ. Only of the near future. Also written 直に.

Remember it 直 (immediate) → immediately, or near enough to it.

体調たいちょうはすこぶる良よい。

My health is exceedingly good.

Usage すこぶる — exceedingly. Written and a little old-fashioned. Close to 非常に, but formal and sometimes faintly wry.

Remember it すこぶる → the word carries more weight than the plain 'very' it replaces.

すんでのところで事故じこを免まぬがれた。

I escaped the accident by a hair's breadth.

Usage すんでのところで〜 — by the narrowest margin. It always tells of a danger escaped at the last moment.

Remember it 済んでの (all but done) + ところで → at the point where it had all but happened.

収入しゅうにゅうはそこそこある。

My income is reasonable enough.

Usage そこそこある, a fair amount; and 〜そこそこ, barely more than — 二十歳そこそこ, only just twenty. The two senses differ considerably.

Remember it そこそこ → about that much, and no need to go further.

それとなく気持きもちを伝つたえてみた。

I tried conveying how I felt indirectly.

Usage それとなく伝える, それとなく聞く — hinting, sounding someone out discreetly. Close to 遠回しに, and very much in the Japanese conversational grain.

Remember it それと (that it is that) + なく → without saying which thing you mean.

たかだか一いち時間じかんの作業さぎょうだ。

It is at most an hour's work.

Usage たかだか〜だ — at most, no more than. It stresses how small the amount is. Also written 高々.

Remember it 高 (high) doubled → however high you pitch it, only that much.

ただならぬ気配けはいを感かんじた。

I sensed something out of the ordinary.

Usage ただならぬ気配, ただならぬ関係 — unusual, and usually ominous. ただ is ordinary, ならぬ is 'not'. It always precedes a noun. Written.

Remember it ただ (ordinary) + ならぬ (is not) → not the ordinary sort at all.

問題もんだいはそうたやすく解決かいけつしない。

The problem will not be solved so easily.

Usage たやすく〜ない — not easily. It also occurs affirmatively: たやすいことだ, a simple matter. Also written 容易く.

Remember it 容易 (easy) → done without effort, or, negated, not to be had for free.

だしぬけに名前なまえを呼よばれて驚おどろいた。

I was startled to have my name called out of the blue.

Usage だしぬけに — abruptly, with no warning. Close to 突然, but だしぬけに stresses the surprise to the hearer. Also written 出し抜けに.

Remember it 出し抜く (catch unawares) → springing it on you before you could prepare.

自分じぶんの未熟みじゅくさをつくづく感かんじた。

I felt my own inexperience keenly.

Usage つくづく感じる, つくづく思う — feeling something deeply on reflection. It goes almost always with a verb of feeling, which is the tested point.

Remember it つくづく → looking at it long enough for it to sink in.

締しめ切きりはとうに過すぎている。

The deadline is long past.

Usage とうに〜ている — already, long since. It stresses that it happened earlier than the listener supposed. Close to とっくに. Also written 疾うに.

Remember it 疾 (swift, early) → it was over early, while you were still expecting it.

とっさに手てが出でてしまった。

My hand shot out before I could think.

Usage とっさに — in a split second, by reflex rather than thought. とっさの判断 is a snap decision. Also written 咄嗟に.

Remember it 咄嗟 (an instant) → in the space of a single breath.

今年ことしの夏なつはとりわけ暑あつい。

This summer is especially hot.

Usage とりわけ — above all, singling one out from a group. Written, more formal than 特に.

Remember it 取り分ける (set apart) → taken out of the set and set in front of you.

なにげなく見みた記事きじが役やくに立たった。

An article I happened to glance at proved useful.

Usage なにげなく〜する — casually, without intending anything. The adverbial form of なにげない. Also written 何気なく.

Remember it 何 (anything) + 気 (intention) + なく → with no intention in it at all.

なにぶん経験けいけんが浅あさいもので。

Being, after all, rather inexperienced...

Usage なにぶん〜ので — 'the thing is, since...', used to ask indulgence in advance. Also なにぶんよろしく, asking for someone's good offices. Written 何分.

Remember it 何分 (whatever the circumstances) → given how things are, please bear with it.

空そらがにわかに曇くもってきた。

The sky suddenly clouded over.

Usage にわかに — abruptly. Also にわかには信じがたい, hard to believe straight away. Written register. Also written 俄に.

Remember it 俄 (sudden) → all at once, with no build-up.

ねんのため確認かくにんしておきます。

I shall check, just to be sure.

Usage 念のため — just in case, for safety's sake. Extremely common at work. 念のため申し上げますと introduces a point added for certainty.

Remember it 念 (careful thought) + ため → for the sake of being sure.

はなから勝かつ気きがなかった。

He had no intention of winning from the outset.

Usage はなから〜ない — from the very start, not. Colloquial, and reproachful. はな is 端, the beginning. Also written 端から.

Remember it 端 (the tip, the start) + から → from the very tip of it.

成功せいこうはひとえに皆様みなさまのおかげです。

Our success is entirely thanks to all of you.

Usage ひとえに〜のおかげ — owing wholly to. Used in formal thanks. Also ひとえにお願い申し上げます, asking earnestly.

Remember it 一重 (a single layer) → one cause only, with nothing else beneath it.

ひょっとすると間まに合あうかもしれない。

We might just make it in time.

Usage ひょっとすると〜かもしれない — possibly, by some chance. It always ends in かもしれない, which is the tested point. Also ひょっとしたら.

Remember it ひょっと → the way an unlikely thing pops into your head.

ふいに声こえをかけられて振ふり向むいた。

Someone spoke to me unexpectedly and I turned round.

Usage ふいに — all of a sudden, without warning. Also written 不意に. Related: 不意を突く, to catch someone off guard.

Remember it 不 (not) + 意 (expectation) → not what you were expecting at that moment.

リハーサルなしのぶっつけ本番ほんばんだった。

It was a live performance with no rehearsal at all.

Usage ぶっつけ本番 — going straight into the real thing — is all but fixed and the word's usual home. Colloquial.

Remember it ぶつける (throw straight at) → thrown straight into it with nothing in between.

大人おとなでも難むずかしい、まして子こどもには無理むりだ。

It is hard even for adults, let alone impossible for children.

Usage AでもX、ましてBは〜 — if even A, then all the more B. Also ましてや. It always leads to the stronger conclusion. A much-tested pattern.

Remember it 増して (exceeding) → the case that exceeds the one just made.

調査ちょうさ結果けっかが実態じったいを如実にょじつに示しめしている。

The survey results show the real state of things vividly.

Usage 如実に示す, 如実に物語る — reflecting reality faithfully. It appears almost only in this adverbial form. Read にょじつに, with 如 in its 呉音 reading.

Remember it 如 (just as) + 実 (the reality) → just as the reality is.

好意こういをむげに断ことわるわけにはいかない。

One cannot flatly refuse such goodwill.

Usage むげに断る, むげに扱う — dismissing something coldly out of hand. Often with 〜わけにはいかない. Also written 無下に.

Remember it 無下 (no lower) → treating it as though it were beneath consideration.

めいめいが意見いけんを述のべた。

Each of them gave an opinion.

Usage めいめい — each individually. Also written 銘々. Close to それぞれ, but めいめい is used only of people.

Remember it 銘 (an inscription, each with its own name) doubled → each one named separately.

もはや手遅ておくれだった。

It was already too late.

Usage もはや〜ない / だ — no longer, or by this point. It implies there is no going back. Written register. Also written 最早.

Remember it 最 (most) + 早 (early) → the moment for it has already gone by.

やおら立たち上あがって話はなし始はじめた。

He rose slowly and began to speak.

Usage やおら — unhurriedly, deliberately. Note carefully: it does NOT mean suddenly, though many Japanese speakers also get this wrong. A classic trap.

Remember it やおら → the motion of someone taking their time getting to their feet.

ゆくゆくは独立どくりつしたいと考かんがえている。

In due course I am thinking of going independent.

Usage ゆくゆくは — eventually, in the long run. Used of plans in the distant future. Close to いずれ. Also written 行く行くは.

Remember it 行く (go) doubled → as things go on and on from here.

ややもすると独ひとりよがりになりがちだ。

One is apt to become self-satisfied.

Usage ややもすると〜がちだ — liable to. It always ends in がち or やすい. Cautionary in tone. Also ややもすれば.

Remember it やや (somewhat) + もすると → let things go a little and this is where they lead.

残のこり時間じかんはわずかに五ご分ふんだ。

There are only five minutes left.

Usage わずかに — only, or slightly. わずかに動く is to move a fraction. Also written 僅かに.

Remember it 僅 (barely) → barely that much, or barely a movement.

説明せつめいしても一向いっこうに理解りかいしてもらえない。

However I explain, they do not understand in the least.

Usage 一向に〜ない — not in the slightest. It ALWAYS takes a negative, which is the tested point, and carries impatience. Read いっこうに.

Remember it 一 (one) + 向 (direction) → not a single step in the right direction.

母ははは一心いっしんに祈いのり続つづけた。

My mother went on praying intently.

Usage 一心に〜する — wholeheartedly, with nothing else in mind. 一心不乱 is the four-character version. Read いっしんに.

Remember it 一 (one) + 心 (heart) → the whole heart on one thing.

何卒なにとぞよろしくお願ねがい申もうし上あげます。

I ask for your kind consideration.

Usage 何卒〜ください / お願いします — the most formal way of asking, used in letters and official notices. Read なにとぞ.

Remember it 何 (whatever) + 卒 (at last) → by whatever means, please let it be so.

状況じょうきょうは依然いぜんとして厳きびしい。

The situation is as severe as ever.

Usage 依然として〜 — still unchanged. It almost always takes として. 旧態依然 means stuck in the old ways. Read いぜん.

Remember it 依 (as before) + 然 (so) → still just so.

元来がんらいこの制度せいどは臨時りんじのものだった。

This system was originally a temporary one.

Usage 元来〜だ — originally, taken from the root. It opens a sentence. Written. Read がんらい, not もとらい. Close to もともと.

Remember it 元 (origin) + 来 (from) → coming from where it began.

今年ことしの冬ふゆは殊ことに寒さむい。

This winter is particularly cold.

Usage 殊に — especially. Written, more formal than 特に. 殊のほか means more than expected. Read ことに.

Remember it 殊 (special, distinct) → set apart from the rest.

辛からくも予選よせんを突破とっぱした。

They scraped through the qualifiers.

Usage 辛くも〜する — barely, with great difficulty. Read からくも, not つらくも — the reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 辛 (hard, bitter) → it was hard going, and only just enough.

異常いじょうがあれば直ただちに報告ほうこくすること。

If anything is wrong, report it immediately.

Usage 直ちに — at once, without delay. The most formal of すぐに / 速やかに / 直ちに, common in regulations. Read ただちに.

Remember it 直 (direct) → straight to it, with nothing in between.

予あらかじめご了承りょうしょうください。

Please note this in advance.

Usage 予めご了承ください — 'please understand in advance' — is the standard formula in notices. Close to 事前に. Read あらかじめ.

Remember it 予 (beforehand, as in 予定, 予約) → settled before the time comes.

答こたえは自おのずから明あきらかになる。

The answer will become clear of itself.

Usage 自ずから〜 — of its own accord, without anyone's doing. Read おのずから. Do not confuse 自ら (みずから), acting of one's own will — a frequent trap.

Remember it 自 (self) + から → coming from the thing itself, not from you.

いやしくも専門せんもん家かを名乗なのるなら責任せきにんを持もて。

If you are going to call yourself an expert at all, take responsibility.

Usage いやしくも〜なら / 以上 — if you claim the name at all, then you must. Written, and admonishing in tone. The kanji is 苟も.

Remember it 苟 (if only, in the slightest) → granting even the smallest claim to the title.

速すみやかに避難ひなんしてください。

Please evacuate promptly.

Usage 速やかに — without delay. Common in emergency announcements and administrative documents. Read すみやかに.

Remember it 速 (fast, as in 速度) → done before time can pass.