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.
Related Post:
Homophones in Japanese
THE 3 JAPANESE VERB GROUPS