Adverbs

さすが

さすが

+ に + V

さすが

+ の + N

Means “as expected”.

Example

さすがのオランダ人、自転車じてんしゃで通かよう。 As expected of a Dutch, they commute by bicycle.

そんなに

Means “so much” or “like that”. Not used with nouns.

⚠ It is applied to the following word, not the preceding one.

Example

僕ぼくは卵たまごがそんなに好きじゃない。 I don’t like eggs that much.

なかなか～ない

This form means that an effort has been made, but no outcome happens. Can be translated as “not easy to”, “not able to”, “hardly”, “not at all”. This form is used with a verb in the negative form (ない).

Example

雨だから、なかなかタクシーが来ていません。 Because of the rain, it’s not easy to get a taxi.

なかなかお酒さけ止めるできない。 It is not easy to stop drinking.

一体

一体いったい is used to make an emphasis when something is surprising, confusing, etc.

Example

いったい誰だれがそんなことをしたか。 Who in the world would do something like this?

まるで

まるで +

V + よう・みたい

N + のよう・みたい

Means “as if”.

Example

え、中古ちゅうこですね。まるで新規しんきのようです。 Eh, it’s second-hand? It looks like new.

もう

Means “already”.

Example

もう出ちゃった。 They already left.

すでに

Means “already”. More formal than もう, implies that something is too late and cannot be changed.

Example

遅おそく起おきたのですでにバスは出発しゅっぱつしてしまった。 I woke up late, so the bus already left.

どうせ

Means “anyhow”, “at any rate”.

Example

どうせ、僕ぼくのアドバイスを聞きかないんでしょう。 Anyhow, you won’t listen to advice, right?

なお

Means “more”, “in addition”. Used in writing. Can be used:

• in a similar way as もっと;
• to add information to a previous sentence.

Example

なお考かんがえるせんいけない。 I still have to think about it.

今日きょうはたくみさんが休やすみです。なお、彼かれは仕事しごとを終おわりなかった。 Takumi-san is not there today. In addition, he did not finish his work.