とても
🃏 Flashcard
とても
totemo
Tap to reveal usage
very; awfully; exceedingly
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
totemo
Post ID
50674
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
very; awfully; exceedingly
📖 How to use it
とても means 'very' and intensifies an adjective, adverb, or verb phrase.
Attaches to
とても is an adverb that comes directly before the word it modifies: とても + adjective (い-adj or な-adj), とても + adverb, or とても + verb phrase.
とても is the standard way to say 'very' in Japanese. You place it right before the word you want to emphasize, like とても大きい (very big) or とても静か (very quiet). It works with both い-adjectives and な-adjectives, and also before adverbs like とても速く (very fast). It can also be used with verbs in affirmative forms, but with negative predicates it often carries a nuance of 'cannot easily' or 'hardly', as in とても信じられない (cannot easily believe).
この本はとても面白いです。
Kono hon wa totemo omoshiroi desu.
This book is very interesting.
日本語はとても難しいですが、楽しいです。
Nihongo wa totemo muzukashii desu ga, tanoshii desu.
Japanese is very difficult, but it's fun.
私はとても疲れました。
Watashi wa totemo tsukaremashita.
I am very tired.
Not とても vs. すごく
とても is neutral and safe in most situations. すごく is more casual and common in everyday conversation, but it can sound a bit rough in formal writing or polite speech.
Register
とても is neutral—used in both speaking and writing, and appropriate for all levels of formality.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
とても
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat とても three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using とても. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern とても mean?
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Very; awfully; exceedingly
What JLPT level is とても?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use とても in a sentence?
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Attach とても (totemo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is とても formal or casual Japanese?
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とても is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember とても long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.