わざと
🃏 Flashcard
わざと
wazato
Tap to reveal usage
on purpose; intentionally~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
wazato
Post ID
50983
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
on purpose; intentionally~
📖 How to use it
Describes an action done deliberately, not by accident.
Attaches to
Used as an adverb before a verb or before the whole clause; no conjugation needed. Place directly before the verb phrase it modifies, often with に (wazato ni) in formal writing, but plain わざと is standard in speech.
わざと marks an action as intentional. If someone steps on your foot, you can tell if it was わざと or not. It often carries a slight negative nuance, like doing something to bother or trick someone, but it can also be neutral, like choosing to ignore something on purpose.
彼はわざと私の名前を間違えた。
Kare wa wazato watashi no namae o machigaeta.
He got my name wrong on purpose.
わざと店の前を通った。
Wazato mise no mae o tootta.
I walked past the shop intentionally.
その質問にはわざと答えなかった。
Sono shitsumon ni wa wazato kotaenakatta.
I deliberately didn't answer that question.
Not あえて (aete)
あえて means 'dare to' or 'go out of your way to do something despite difficulty or risk,' often with a positive or brave nuance, while わざと is simply 'on purpose,' often negative. For example, あえて難しい道を選ぶ (choose the hard path deliberately) vs. わざと間違える (make a mistake on purpose).
Register
Neutral and common in both conversation and writing; plain わざと is fine in any register, while わざとに sounds slightly formal or literary.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
わざと
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat わざと 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 わざと. 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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern わざと mean?
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On purpose; intentionally~
What JLPT level is わざと?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use わざと in a sentence?
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Attach わざと (wazato) 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 わざと formal or casual Japanese?
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わざと is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember わざと 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.