Japanese Lessons 10 – Frequency adverbs in Japanese
Learn how to use and where to place adverbs of frequency in Japanese!
kaiwa / Conversation
「yoku eiga o mi-masu」”How often do you watch movies”
A: John-san, yoku eiga o mi-masu ka?
B: hai, yoku mi-masu.
horaa to komedii o yoku mi-masu. Yamada-san wa?
A: iie, amari mi-masen.
watashi wa geemu no hoo ga suki-desu.
B: watashi wa zenzen geem o shimasen.
A: eh? dooshite? geemu wa omoshiroi desu yo.
<translation>
A: John, do you often watch movies?
B: Yes, I often do. I often watch horror movies and comedy movies.
How about you, Mr. Yamada?
A: No, I don’t often watch (movies).
I prefer (playing) games.
B: I don’t play games at all.
A: Why not? Playng games is fun.
<vocabulary>
1. horaa = horror movie(s) 2. komedii = comedy movie(s) 3. geemu = game such as Nintendoo, X-box etc.,
4. yoku = often 5. amari = not so often 6. A no hoo ga suki desu = I prefer A (to B)
7. dooshite = why (not)? 8. omoshiroi = interesting, fun
■ hingo no fukushi / Frequency adverbs in Janapese
| 1 | まいにち | mainichi | every day |
| 2 | いつも | itsumo | always |
| 3 | たいてい | taitei | usually |
| 4 | よく | yoku | often |
| 5 | ときどき | tokidoki | somtimes |
| 6 | たまに | tamani | occasionally |
| 7 | あまり(よく） | amari (yoku) | not very often |
| 8 | めったに | mettani | hardly ever |
| 9 | ぜんぜん | zenzen | never, not at all |
■ hindo no fukushi no tsukaikata to ichi.
How to use and where to put adverbs of frequency in Japanese.
1. Frequency adverbs are often placed in front of the direct object.
→ watashi wa yoku biiru o nomi-masu. / I often drink beer.
2. The adverbs can be also put before the verb.
→ watashi wa biiru o yoku nomi-masu.
3. “amari,” “mettani ” and ” zenzen, ” are used with the negative form of verbs.
→ watashi wa amari terebi o mi-masen. / I don’t often watch TV.
watashi wa mettani wain o nomi-masen. / I hardly ever drin wine.
chichi wa zenzen spootsu o shimasen. / My father doesn’t play sport at all.
