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Expressing frequency in Japanese

Expressing frequency in Japanese

Expressing frequency to help take your Japanese to the next level

Frequency Verbs in Japanese

1. たいてい (Taitei) – Usually

夜はたいていボウリングに行きます。
yoru wa taietei bouringu ni ikimasu
At night, we usually go bowling.

2. ときどき (tokidoki) – sometimes

葉がときどき落ちてきた。
Hapa ga tokidoki ochitekita.
Leaves fall down sometimes.

3. たまに (tamani) – occasionally

夫はたまに御酒を飲みます
Otto wa tamani sake wo nomimasu
My husband drinks sake occasionally

4. あまり amari – not very often

私はあまり食べません。
watashi wa amari tabemasen.
I don’t eat much.

5. ぜんぜん zenzen – never, not at all

これは全然終わってない。
Kore wa zenzen owattenai
This isn’t finished at all.

6. いつも itsumo – always

私は日曜日にはいつも家にいない。
Watashi wa nichiyoubi ni itsumo ie ni inai
I’m always away from home on Sundays.

Expressing “Frequency” of an action in Japanese

1. いつも:always
Used for both positive & negative sentences

駅までいつも歩いて行きます。
(Eki made itsumo aruite ikimasu.)
I always go to the railway station by foot.

2. 時々:occasionally
Used for positive sentences only

時々友達と出かけます。
(Tokidoki tomodachi to dekakemasu.)
Occasionally, I go out with my friend.

3. たまに : rarely
Used for positive sentences only

たまに来てください。
(Tamani kite kudasai.)
Please come once in a while

4. あまり:not very often
Used for negative sentences only

映画はあまり見ません。
(Eiga wa amari mimasen.)
I don’t watch movies very often.

5. 全然:never
Used for negative sentences only

夕ご飯は全然食べません。
(Yuugohan wa zenzen tabemasen.)
I don’t eat dinner at all.

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Homophones in Japanese
THE 3 JAPANESE VERB GROUPS