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.