60+ Common Japanese Adverbs and How to Use Them in Sentences Like a Pro

You ran to the store.

Wait, let’s try that again.

You ran to the unusually empty store quite frantically as the zombies chased you tenaciously.

To really light a fire under your language, you’ll need adverbs.

In Japanese, adverbs come in a variety of classifications, and they have different uses and positions within sentences.

The guide below will show you how to form and use Japanese adverbs so you’ll be able to throw them around like a native speaker!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

How Do Japanese Adjectives Turn Into Adverbs?

Adverbs are words that serve to modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.

Let’s look at an example sentence:

キツネは速く走りました。
(きつねは はやく はしりました。)
The fox ran quickly.

In this case, the adverb quickly modifies the verb ran, informing us of how the fox ran.

In both English and Japanese, the adverb quickly, or 速く (はやく), is derived from the adjective quick ( 速い — はやい).

We can convert many adjectives into adverbs by adding “-ly” to the end in English. Japanese has a similar modification mechanism that we’ll delve into.

As you may recall, Japanese adjectives come in two types: -い and -な.

If this doesn’t sound familiar or is a bit hazy, check out this guide to Japanese adjectives and this rundown of essential adjectives.

In both cases, the change from adjective to adverb is quite simple.

How to Turn -い Adjectives Into Adverbs in Japanese

For -い adjectives, simply replace the -い with -く.

Example sentences:

赤ちゃん達はかわいく笑います。
(あかちゃんたちは かわいく わらいます。)
Babies laugh cutely.

彼女はあたたかく微笑んだ。
(かのじょはあたたかくほほえんだ。)
She smiled warmly.

上司は彼を高く評価した。
(じょうしはかれをたかくひょうかした。)
His boss praised him highly.

レストランの料理はよくできています。
(このれすとらんのりょうりわよくできています。)
The restaurant is well-made.

How to Turn -な Adjectives Into Adverbs in Japanese

As for -な adjectives, instead of adding -な as the connective tissue, use -に instead. 

Example sentences:

彼は静かに眠りませんでした。
(かれは しずかに ねむりませんでした。)
He did not sleep quietly.

私は熱心に勉強しました。
(わたしは ねっしんに べんきょうしました。)
I studied enthusiastically.

彼女は幸せに微笑みました。
(かのじょはしあわせにほほえみました。)
She smiled happily.

彼らは快適に旅行を楽しんでいます。
(かれらはかいてきにりょこうをたのしんでいます。)
They are enjoying the trip comfortably.

私たちは健康的に食事を摂ることが重要です。
(わたしたちはけんこうてきにしょくじをとることがじゅうようです。)
It’s important for us to eat healthily.

69 Japanese Adjectives and Their Classifications

Adverbs fall under several classifications:

• Adverbs of Degree
• Adverbs of Place
• Adverbs of Time
• Adverbs of Frequency
• Adverbs of Manner

Knowing which adverbs fall into which class isn’t super important, but you do want to avoid doubling up on some since it can come out sounding nonsensical (like if an English speaker were to say “very a little”).

Just be sure it makes sense when translating.

One exception is descriptive-style adverbs, which can be used in conjunction since they’re typically modifying adjectives or verbs (“he awkwardly, haltingly danced”) rather than other adverbs.

Adverbs of Degree

These adverbs express to what degree an action is performed or an adjective instantiated.

They follow the formula:

Topic / Subject + Adverb + Predicate (Adjective)

Or if you’re using a verb:

Topic + Adverb + Verb

Here are some of the most common adverbs of degree in Japanese:

Example sentences:

その熊はかなり大きいです。
(そのくまは かなり おおきい です。)
The bear is quite large.

私は全然泳ぎません。
(わたしはぜんぜん およぎません。)
I don’t swim at all.

彼女はとても素晴らしい。
(かのじょは とてもすばらしい。)
She is very beautiful.

彼は相当に忙しい。
(かれはそうとうにいそがしい。)
He’s really busy.

その映画は非常に面白かった。
(そのえいがはひじょうにおもしろかった。)
The movie was extremely interesting.

Here’s a video to help you solidify what you’ve learned about adverbs of degree from Free Japanese School:

Adverbs of Place

These Japanese adverbs tell you where an action takes place.

Adverbs of place usually come between the topic of the sentence, the particle は and the verb.

They’re also usually attached to the location particle へ or で.

Here are some common Japanese adverbs of place:

Example sentences:

ここにボールを投げろ。
(ここに ぼーるをなげろ。)
Throw the ball here.

世界のどこでも行ってみたい。
(せかいの どこでも いってみたい。)
I want to go everywhere in the world.

彼はそこにいます。
(かれはそこにいます。)
He is there.

彼女はあそこにいます。
(かのじょはあそこにいます。)
She is over there.

こちらに来てください。
(こちらにきてください。)
Please come over here.

そちらへ行きます。
(そちらへいきます。)
I’ll go over there.

あちらにお店があります。
(あちらにおみせがあります。)
A shop is over there.

Adverbs of Time

These adverbs describe when something happens and its duration.

Adverbs of time usually come before the verb and/or after the subject.

Take a look at these common adverbs of time:

Example sentences:

昨日、猫は死にました。
(きのう、ねこは しにました。)
The cat passed away yesterday.

今、行きましょう。
(いま、いきましょう。)
Let’s go now.

明日は会議があります。
(あすはかいぎがあります。)
The meeting is tomorrow.

昨日の夕方、友達と公園で遊びました。
(きのうのゆうがた、ともだちとこうえんであそびました。)
Yesterday evening, I played in the park with my friends.

今夜はパーティーです。
(こんやはぱーてぃーです。)
There is a party tonight.

明日の夕方、ディナーに行く予定です。
(あすのゆうがた、ぢなーにいくよていです。)
Tomorrow evening, I have plans to go out for dinner.

先週は忙しかったです。
(せんしゅうはいそがしかったです。)
Last week was busy.

今週は試験があります。
(こんしゅうはしけんがあります。)
There is an exam this week.

来週は旅行に行きます。
(らいしゅうはりょこうにいきます。)
I will go on a trip next week.

先月は友達と旅行に行きました。
(せんげつはともだちとりょこうにいきました。)
I went on a trip with my friends last month.

今月は誕生日です。
(こんげつはたんじょうびです。)
It’s my birthday this month.

来月から新しい仕事が始まります。
(らいげつからあたらしいしごとがはじまります。)
A new job will start next month.

去年は新しい趣味を始めました。
(きょねんはあたらしいしゅみをはじめました。)
I started a new hobby last year.

今年は大きな変化がありました。
(ことしはおおきなへんかがありました。)
There have been significant changes this year.

来年は結婚式を挙げる予定です。
(らいねんはけっこんしきをあげるよていです。)
I have plans to have a wedding ceremony next year.

Ninjapanese has a great video on time words if you want to learn more:

Adverbs of Frequency

How often does the action take place or is the adjective manifested?

Adverbs of frequency usually come before the verb. And sometimes they come before the object.

Example sentences:

いつも遅れる。
(いつも おくれる。)
I’m always late.

よくビールを飲みます。
(よく びーるをのみます。)
I often drink beer.

彼女は電車で時々歌います。
(かのじょは でんしゃで ときどき うたいます。)
She sings on the train sometimes.

彼は毎日シャワーを浴びます。
(かれは まいにち しゃわーをあびます。)
He takes a shower every day.

毎週、友達とランチに行きます。
(まいしゅう、ともだちとらんちにいきます。)
I go out for lunch with my friends every week.

毎月、家族で旅行に行きます。
(まいつき、かぞくでりょこうにいきます。)
I go on a trip with my family every month.

毎年、私たちは祖父母を訪ねます。
(まいとし、わたしたちはそふぼをたずねます。)
Every year, we visit our grandparents.

彼はめったに遅刻しません。
(かれはめったにちこくしません。)
He is rarely late.

私たちはたまに外食します。
(わたしたちはたまにがいしょくします。)
We eat out on occasion.

彼女は決して諦めません。
(かのじょはけっしてあきらめません。)
She never gives up.

彼はほとんど家にいます。
(かれはほとんどいえにいます。)
He is almost always at home.

I recommend this video from Japanese Smiles if you want to learn more adverbs of frequency:

Adverbs of Manner

These adverbs answer how the action is performed.

You can be pretty flexible when it comes to placing adverbs of manner in sentences. Usually, they’re found either before the verb, after the verb or between the verb stem and the ending.

Example sentences:

風が強く吹く。
(かぜが つよく ふく。)
The wind blows strongly.

雨が弱く降る。
(あめが よわく ふる。)
The rain falls weakly.

私達は日本語を楽しく学びます。
(わたしたちは にほんごをたのしく まなびます。)
We learn Japanese joyfully.

彼は上手にピアノを弾きます。
(かれはじょうずにぴあのをひきます。)
He plays the piano skillfully.

彼は丁寧に挨拶します。
(かれはていねいにあいさつします。)
He greets politely.

彼は真剣に取り組みます。
(かれはしんけんにとりくみます。)
He takes it seriously.

Adverbs That Don’t Come From Adjectives

Not all adverbs are derived from adjectives. In fact, some of the most important ones are adverbs through and through.

Example sentences:

野菜はあまり好きじゃない。
(やさいは あまり すきじゃない。)
I don’t like vegetables very much.

ゆっくり話してください。
(ゆっくり はなして ください。)
Please speak slowly.

ちょっと待って。
(ちょっと まって。)
Wait a moment.

彼は沢山の本を持っています。
(かれはたくさんのほんをもっています。)
He has a lot of books.

既に映画は始まっています。席に座ってください。
(すでにえいがははじまっています。せきにすわってください。)
The movie has already started. Please take your seats.

もっと勉強しないといけません。
(もっとべんきょうしないといけません。)
I need to study more.

多分雨が降るでしょう。
(たぶんあめがふるでしょう。)
It will probably rain.

彼はすぐに助けを呼びました。
(かれはすぐにたすけをよびました。)
He called for help immediately.

もう少し待ってください。
(もうすこしまってください。)
Please wait a little more.

彼はまだ来ていません。
(かれはまだきていません。)
He hasn’t arrived yet.

しばらくお待ちください。
(しばらくおまちください。)
Please wait for a while.

彼は必ず勝ちます。
(かれはかならずかちます。)
He will surely win.

These are common adverbs, so it’s worth getting familiar with them!

You can also learn more of them in context with FluentU, which teaches you adverbs and other essential vocabulary through native videos.

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Now let’s pin down how to form sentences with adverbs.

Japanese Sentence Structure with Adverbs

When modifying verbs, the adverb can be placed almost anywhere in the sentence so long as it comes before the verb:

彼は急いで病院へ走って行きました。
(かれは いそいで びょういんへ はしっていきました。)
He ran to the hospital quickly.

彼は病院へ急いで走って行きました。
(かれは びょういんへ いそいで はしっていきました。)
He quickly ran to the hospital.

The closer the adverb is placed to the verb, the more emphasis it’s given.

If the adverb is modifying an adjective or another adverb, simply place the adverb directly in front of what it’s modifying: 

沖縄の夏は大変暑いです。
(おきなわの なつは たいへん あついです。)
Summer in Okinawa is terribly hot.

もうちょっとゆっくり食べなさい。
(もうちょっと ゆっくり たべなさい。)
Eat a bit more slowly.

There you have it, everything you need to know about the underpinning structures of Japanese adverbs.

And with that knowledge, you can now take just about any adjective you can think of (most of which we didn’t cover here), turn it into an adverb and place it properly in a sentence fully aware of the emphasis it’ll convey.

That’s the power of grammar.

As for the non-adjective related adverbs, you’ll just have to pick those up along the way when studying vocabulary, but you’ll still know how to use them when you do!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

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