副詞 V

あわや大おお事故じこになるところだった。

It came within an inch of being a serious accident.

Usage あわや〜ところだった — very nearly. It always tells of disaster averted at the last instant. Written and dramatic.

Remember it あわや → the cry you let out in the instant before it does not happen.

いっそのこと一いちから作つくり直なおそう。

We might as well build it again from scratch.

Usage いっそのこと〜しよう — rather than half measures, go the whole way. An emphatic form of いっそ, leading to the more decisive option.

Remember it いっそ + のこと → since we are at it, let it be the whole thing.

理由りゆううんぬんより結果けっかが大切たいせつだ。

Results matter more than talk of reasons and so forth.

Usage 〜うんぬん — and so on, placed after a noun and usually dismissive. Also written 云々. Read うんぬん, not うんうん.

Remember it 云 (say) doubled → 'says this and says that', and none of it to the point.

存外ぞんがい早はやく終おわった。

It finished unexpectedly early.

Usage 存外〜だ — contrary to what one supposed. Written. Close to 案外 and 意外と. Read ぞんがい.

Remember it 存 (what you supposed) + 外 (outside) → outside what you had supposed.

おもむろに立たち上あがって一礼いちれいした。

He rose deliberately and bowed.

Usage おもむろに — slowly, unhurriedly. Note carefully: it does NOT mean suddenly, though many Japanese speakers also get it wrong. The same trap as やおら. Also written 徐に.

Remember it 徐 (slow, as in 徐行) → at the pace of someone taking their time.

会社かいしゃ勤づとめのかたわら小説しょうせつを書かいている。

Alongside his office job he writes novels.

Usage 〜のかたわら — while chiefly doing one thing, also doing another. The main occupation always comes first. Also written 傍ら. Written register.

Remember it 傍 (at the side) → the second thing carried along at the side of the first.

あれから、かれこれ十じゅう年ねんになる。

It has been about ten years since then.

Usage かれこれ〜になる — roughly, of periods of time. Also かれこれ言う, saying this and that. Also written 彼此.

Remember it 彼 (that) + 此 (this) → this much and that much, taken together.

こともあろうに結婚けっこん式しきの日ひに寝坊ねぼうした。

Of all days, I overslept on my wedding day.

Usage こともあろうに — of all the times or places it could have been, the worst. Always with vexation or astonishment. Written.

Remember it 事もあろうに → there were other occasions available, and it chose this one.

さしあたって問題もんだいはない。

For the moment there is no problem.

Usage さしあたって — for now, implying that later is another matter. Also written 差し当たって. Close to さしずめ, 当面.

Remember it 差し当たる (run up against) + て → dealing with what you have run into just now.

さぞかし心配しんぱいなさったことでしょう。

You must have been terribly worried.

Usage さぞかし〜だろう — surely. An emphatic form of さぞ. It always ends in a conjecture, and is used in sympathy.

Remember it さぞ + かし → surely, with the old emphatic particle to press it home.

ご意見いけんはしかと受うけ止とめました。

I have taken your views firmly on board.

Usage しかと〜する — firmly, certainly; also written 確と. Note the unrelated modern slang しかとする, to blank someone.

Remember it 確 (certain) + と → held as a certainty.

犬いぬがしきりと吠ほえている。

The dog is barking incessantly.

Usage しきりと〜する — continuously, or very earnestly. Also しきりに. しきりに勧める is to press an invitation repeatedly.

Remember it 頻 (repeatedly) + と → again and again without a break.

篤とくとご覧らんください。

Please look carefully.

Usage 篤と〜する — thoroughly, attentively. Archaic written style, often as 篤とご覧あれ. The same 篤 as in 篤実. Read とくと.

Remember it 篤 (earnest, thorough) → looking at it as though it mattered.

そこはかとなく春はるの気配けはいがする。

There is somehow a hint of spring in the air.

Usage そこはかとなく〜する — faintly, from no source you can name. Literary. Partners: 感じる, 漂う, する.

Remember it そこ (there) + はかとなく (not to be pinned) → you cannot say from where, only that it is there.

気きがそぞろになって集中しゅうちゅうできない。

My mind wanders and I cannot concentrate.

Usage 気もそぞろ — mind elsewhere — is the usual phrase. Also written 漫ろに. It describes attention that will not stay put.

Remember it 漫 (aimless, diffuse) → the mind drifting off wherever it likes.

たいがいのことは我慢がまんできる。

I can put up with most things.

Usage たいがいの〜, most of; and たいがいにしろ, 'that is quite enough'. Also written 大概.

Remember it 大 (large) + 概 (in outline) → the large part of it, taken roughly.

たまさか立たち寄よった店みせで再会さいかいした。

I met him again at a shop I happened to call in at.

Usage たまさか — by rare chance. Written and slightly archaic. Also written 偶さか. Close to たまたま but more formal.

Remember it 偶 (by chance) + さか → the rare occasion when it happens to fall that way.

ちらりと時計とけいに目めをやった。

I glanced at the clock.

Usage ちらりと見る, ちらりと聞く — catching something in passing. Also ちらっと, more colloquial. ちらりと聞いた話 is something half overheard.

Remember it ちらり → the thing seen in the instant before you look away.

彼かれの名なはつとに知しられている。

His name has long been known.

Usage つとに知られている — long famous — is the usual phrase. Archaic written style. Also written 夙に. Read つとに.

Remember it 夙 (early, from long ago) → known since well before now.

てんで話はなしにならない。

It is utterly hopeless.

Usage てんで〜ない — not in the least. It ALWAYS takes a negative. Colloquial and strongly dismissive.

Remember it てんで → not even the beginning of it.

それはとりもなおさず責任せきにん放棄ほうきだ。

That is, in other words, an abdication of responsibility.

Usage 〜はとりもなおさず〜だ — which is to say. It restates one thing as another. Written register.

Remember it 取りも直さず → without even needing to rephrase it, it comes to this.

安全あんぜん確認かくにんをなおざりにしていた。

Safety checks had been neglected.

Usage 〜をなおざりにする — leaving something undone or half done. Do not confuse おざなり, doing it for form's sake — the two are constantly mixed up.

Remember it なおざり → left as it was, with the attention never given to it.

なけなしの貯金ちょきんをはたいた。

I spent what little savings I had.

Usage なけなしの〜 — the last scraps of what one has. It always precedes a noun. From 無い plus 無し. There is pathos in it.

Remember it 無い (none) + 無し (without) → so little that it is next door to nothing.

なにはともあれ無事ぶじで何なによりだ。

In any case, the main thing is that you are safe.

Usage なにはともあれ — whatever else, first and foremost. It sweeps everything else aside to fix on what matters most.

Remember it 何はともあれ → let everything else be as it may.

なんだかんだで一日いちにち終おわった。

What with one thing and another, the day was over.

Usage なんだかんだ(で) — with all sorts of odds and ends. Colloquial. なんだかんだ言っても means 'say what you like'.

Remember it 何だかんだ → this and that and the other, none of it worth naming.

にべもなく断ことわられた。

I was refused curtly.

Usage にべもなく断る — refusing flatly, with not a softening word. にべ is fish glue: there is nothing adhesive left. Written register.

Remember it にべ (fish glue) + もなく → not a trace of anything to soften the join.

客きゃくをねんごろにもてなした。

They entertained their guest attentively.

Usage ねんごろに — cordially, with care. Also written 懇ろに. The same 懇 as in 懇切 and 懇願. Written register.

Remember it 懇 (earnest kindness) → hospitality meant, not merely performed.

彼かれはのべつ喋しゃべり続つづけている。

He talks incessantly.

Usage のべつ〜する — without a break. のべつ幕なし, with no interval at all, is a set phrase. It implies the listener has had enough.

Remember it 延べつ → stretched out with no pause cut into it.

はたして結果けっかは予想よそう通どおりだった。

Sure enough, the result was as predicted.

Usage はたして〜だった, sure enough; and はたして〜だろうか, 'is it really?', which always takes a question. Also written 果たして.

Remember it 果たす (come to pass) → did it come to pass, or did it indeed come to pass.

はなはだ遺憾いかんである。

It is exceedingly regrettable.

Usage はなはだ〜だ — extremely. Formal written style. Also written 甚だ. The adjective はなはだしい means outrageous.

Remember it 甚 (extreme) → past the ordinary degree of it.

ひとかたならぬお世話せわになりました。

I am indebted to you more than I can say.

Usage ひとかたならぬお世話 — help far beyond the ordinary — is the standard formula in formal thanks. Also written 一方ならぬ.

Remember it 一方 (the ordinary measure) + ならぬ → not by the ordinary measure at all.

ひょんなことから知しり合あった。

We got to know each other through an odd chance.

Usage ひょんなことから — out of some trivial accident — is effectively its only use. It always precedes こと.

Remember it ひょんな → the small odd thing you would never have predicted.

彼かれはふいと姿すがたを消けしてしまった。

He vanished without warning.

Usage ふいと — abruptly. Written register. Close to ふいに, but ふいと stresses the decisiveness of the actor's own movement.

Remember it 不意 (unforeseen) + と → gone before you had registered the movement.

へたに手てを出だすと危あぶない。

It is dangerous to meddle carelessly.

Usage へたに〜すると — if you go about it clumsily, then. It always leads to a bad consequence. Also written 下手に.

Remember it 下手 (unskilled) + に → done by a hand not up to it.

実力じつりょくの差さをまざまざと見みせつけられた。

The gap in ability was shown up all too clearly.

Usage まざまざと見せつけられる — having it demonstrated beyond denial. The と form of まざまざ. It stresses what is put plainly before you.

Remember it まざまざ + と → set in front of your eyes with nothing in the way.

まちがっても他人たにんに言いってはいけない。

On no account tell anyone else.

Usage まちがっても〜ない / てはいけない — under no circumstances. It ALWAYS takes a prohibition or a negative, and is used to press a warning home.

Remember it 間違っても → not even by mistake.

みだりに立たち入いらないでください。

Please do not enter without due cause.

Usage みだりに〜ないでください — do not do so at your own discretion. Common on prohibition signs and in regulations. Also written 妄りに. Formal.

Remember it 妄 (unwarranted) → doing it with no warrant for doing it.

むしょうに故郷こきょうが恋こいしくなった。

I was seized with a longing for home.

Usage むしょうに〜たい / なる — irresistibly. Also written 無性に. It always describes a feeling that wells up unbidden.

Remember it 無性 (without reason) → wanting it with no reason you could give.

批判ひはんをもろに受うけた。

He took the criticism full in the face.

Usage もろに〜受ける — taking it head-on, with nothing deflected. Colloquial. もろに影響を受ける is to feel the full effect.

Remember it もろに → straight on, with nothing in between to take the force.

やにわに立たち上あがって叫さけんだ。

He suddenly stood up and shouted.

Usage やにわに — all at once, on the spot. Note that this is the exact opposite of やおら, which means slowly, despite how alike they look. A classic trap.

Remember it 矢庭 (where the arrow lands) → in the very spot, and in the very instant.

ややあって返事へんじが返かえってきた。

After a short while, a reply came back.

Usage ややあって — a little later. Written, common in narrative. やや means slightly.

Remember it やや (a little) + あって → a little time having passed.

ゆめゆめ油断ゆだんしてはならない。

You must never let your guard down.

Usage ゆめゆめ〜な / てはならない — on no account. It ALWAYS takes a prohibition. Archaic written style, and sternly admonishing.

Remember it ゆめ (never, in the old language) doubled → never, and never again.

よくもそんなことが言いえたものだ。

How dare he say such a thing.

Usage よくも〜ものだ — an exclamation of outrage or astonishment. It often pairs with ぬけぬけと. Colloquial.

Remember it よくも → 'well might you' — said with the opposite of admiration.

よしんば失敗しっぱいしても後悔こうかいはしない。

Even if I fail, I shall not regret it.

Usage よしんば〜ても — even supposing. It always takes ても. Formal written style. Close to たとえ and 仮に.

Remember it よしんば → granting it, for the sake of argument.

よりによって今日きょう雨あめとは。

Of all days for it to rain.

Usage よりによって〜とは — of all the possible ones, that one. Always with vexation. Close to こともあろうに.

Remember it 選りに選って → out of everything you could have picked, this.

費用ひようは如何いかほどでしょうか。

How much would the cost be?

Usage 如何ほど — how much, to what degree. Honorific, considerably more formal than いくら. Read いかほど.

Remember it 如何 (how) + ほど (extent) → to what extent.

参加さんか者しゃは一様いちように驚おどろいた。

The participants were all alike astonished.

Usage 一様に〜する — uniformly, none differing from another. Also 一様ではない, not all the same. Read いちように.

Remember it 一 (one) + 様 (manner) → all in the one manner.

語学ごがく力りょくは一朝いっちょう一夕いっせきには身みにつかない。

Language ability is not acquired overnight.

Usage 一朝一夕には〜ない — not in a single day. A four-character compound, and it ALWAYS takes a negative. Read いっちょういっせき.

Remember it 一朝 (one morning) + 一夕 (one evening) → the work of one morning and one evening.

強あながち間違まちがいとは言いえない。

You could not necessarily call it a mistake.

Usage 強ち〜ない — not necessarily. It ALWAYS takes a negative. Read あながち. Close to まんざら〜ない.

Remember it 強 (forcibly) → you cannot force the case that far.

最近さいきん頓とみに増ふえている。

It has been increasing markedly of late.

Usage 頓に〜する — suddenly and noticeably. Written. Read とみに. The same 頓 as 頓着, but read quite differently.

Remember it 頓 (abrupt) → all at once, and plainly.

社長しゃちょう自みずから現場げんばに足あしを運はこんだ。

The president went to the site in person.

Usage 自ら〜する — personally, of one's own accord. Read みずから. Do not confuse 自ずから (おのずから), of its own accord — a frequent trap.

Remember it 自 (self) → the self doing it, not the thing doing itself.

腕うではいいが、如何いかんせん経験けいけんが足たりない。

He is skilled, but unfortunately short of experience.

Usage 如何せん〜 — the trouble is; it introduces an obstacle that cannot be got round. The kanji form of いかんせん. Read いかんせん.

Remember it 如何 (what) + せん (to do) → what is one to do about it.

願ねがわくは皆みなが健すこやかであれ。

Would that everyone be in good health.

Usage 願わくは〜であれ / たい — would that. Archaic written style, often ending in the old imperative. Read ねがわくは.

Remember it 願う (wish) + わくは → what I would wish, if wishing served.

敢あえなく一回戦いっかいせんで敗やぶれた。

He went out sadly in the first round.

Usage 敢えなく〜する — coming to a swift and sorry end. Written. Partners: 敗れる, 散る. Read あえなく.

Remember it 敢え (holding out) + なく → without holding out at all.

炎ほのおは見みる間まに広ひろがった。

The flames spread in the blink of an eye.

Usage 見る間に〜する — in the time it takes to look. Close to みるみる. Read みるまに.

Remember it 見る (look) + 間 (interval) → within the space of one look.

彼かれは言いわば生いき字引じびきだ。

He is, so to speak, a walking encyclopedia.

Usage 言わば〜だ — so to speak, introducing a comparison. Also written 謂わば. Distinct from いわゆる, 'what is called'.

Remember it 言う (say) + ば → if one were to put it that way.

所詮しょせん他人事ひとごとなのだろう。

In the end it is somebody else's problem to them.

Usage 所詮〜だ — when all is said and done, it is only. Always with resignation or dismissal. Written. Read しょせん.

Remember it 所 (the place) + 詮 (the upshot) → the place it all comes out at in the end.

遅おそかれ早はやかれ知しられることだ。

Sooner or later it will be found out.

Usage 遅かれ早かれ〜 — sooner or later. The old 〜かれ〜かれ pattern also survives in 多かれ少なかれ, more or less.

Remember it 遅い (late) + 早い (early), both in the old form → be it late, be it early.

なんとしても今日きょう中じゅうに終おわらせたい。

I want to finish it today whatever it takes.

Usage なんとしても〜たい / なければ — by any means. It always ends in a resolve or an obligation. Slightly stronger than どうしても.

Remember it 何 (whatever) + としても → whatever it may cost to do it.