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Tag: expressing repeated actions in japanese grammar
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Expressing Frequency in Japanese
How to Talk About Frequency in Japanese
Learning how to express frequency is an essential part of mastering any language. In Japanese, there are various ways to indicate how often something happens, ranging from daily habits to rare occurrences. This guide will provide all the patterns and tips you need to express frequency like a native speaker.
Basic Frequency Vocabulary
Here are some common adverbs used to express frequency in Japanese:
Japanese Romaji English Translation Example Sentence ใใคใ itsumo always ็งใฏใใคใๆใใฏใใ้ฃในใพใใ
(Watashi wa itsumo asagohan o tabemasu.)
I always eat breakfast.ใใ yoku often ๅฝผใฏใใๆ ็ปใ่ฆใพใใ
(Kare wa yoku eiga o mimasu.)
He often watches movies.ๆใ tokidoki sometimes ็งใฏๆใ ๆฌใ่ชญใฟใพใใ
(Watashi wa tokidoki hon o yomimasu.)
I sometimes read books.ใใพใซ tamani occasionally ใใพใซๅค้ฃใใพใใ
(Tamani gaishoku shimasu.)
I occasionally eat out.ใใพใ amari not often (with negation) ็งใฏใใพใใใฌใใ่ฆใพใใใ
(Watashi wa amari terebi o mimasen.)
I don’t watch TV often.ๅ จ็ถ zenzen never (with negation) ๅฝผๅฅณใฏๅ จ็ถ้ๅใใพใใใ
(Kanojo wa zenzen undou shimasen.)
She never exercises.
Patterns for Expressing Frequency
- Using Adverbs
Frequency adverbs are usually placed before the verb they modify.- Example: ็งใฏใใใซใใงใซ่กใใพใใ
(Watashi wa yoku kafe ni ikimasu.)
I often go to cafes.
- Example: ็งใฏใใใซใใงใซ่กใใพใใ
- Time Expressions with Frequency Indicators
To specify how often something happens, combine time expressions with frequency words like ๅ (kai, “times”) or ๅบฆ (do, “times”).- Pattern:
- Time + ใซ (ni) + Number + ๅ (kai)
- Example: ไธ้ฑ้ใซไธๅใธใ ใซ่กใใพใใ
(Isshuukan ni sankai jimu ni ikimasu.)
I go to the gym three times a week.
- Pattern:
- Using ๆฏ (mai) for Recurring Activities
The prefix ๆฏ (mai) means “every” and is used to indicate regularity.- Examples:
- ๆฏๆฅ (mainichi) – every day
- ๆฏ้ฑ (maishuu) – every week
- ๆฏๆ (maigetsu/maitsuki) – every month
- ๆฏๅนด (mainen/maitoshi) – every year
- Example Sentence: ็งใฏๆฏๆใธใงใฎใณใฐใใใพใใ
(Watashi wa maiasa jogingu o shimasu.)
I jog every morning.
- Examples:
- Using ๏ฝใใจใซ (~goto ni)
This suffix indicates regular intervals.- Example: ไบๆฅใใจใซๆ้คใใพใใ
(Futsuka goto ni souji shimasu.)
I clean every two days.
- Example: ไบๆฅใใจใซๆ้คใใพใใ
- Expressing Negative Frequency
When using words like ใใพใ (amari) or ๅ จ็ถ (zenzen), they must be paired with a verb in the negative form.- Examples:
- ๅฝผใฏใใพใๅๅผทใใพใใใ
(Kare wa amari benkyou shimasen.)
He doesn’t study much. - ็งใฏๅ
จ็ถๆณณใใพใใใ
(Watashi wa zenzen oyogimasen.)
I never swim.
- ๅฝผใฏใใพใๅๅผทใใพใใใ
- Examples:
Things to Keep in Mind
- Context Matters
- The frequency you use depends on the situation. For instance, using “always” (ใใคใ) too often might make you sound exaggerated or unnatural in casual speech.
- Cultural Nuances
- Japanese people often use frequency expressions to politely imply how often they perform an action, even if itโs not true all the time. For instance, saying โใใใใใพใโ (I often do it) can sometimes serve as a polite expression rather than an exact frequency.
- Differentiating ๅ (kai) and ๅบฆ (do)
- ๅ (kai) is more common in casual speech, while ๅบฆ (do) can feel more formal or traditional.
- Practice Pronunciation
- Properly enunciate frequency adverbs for clarity. For instance, ใใพใซ (tamani) and ๆใ (tokidoki) should not be rushed when speaking.
Practical Exercises
- Fill in the blanks with the correct frequency adverb:
- ็งใฏ๏ผ____๏ผใซใฉใชใฑใซ่กใใพใใ
- Hint: If you go “sometimes,” use ๆใ .
- Translate the sentences into Japanese:
- I clean my room every week.
- He rarely eats sushi.
- Create Your Own Sentences:
- Write three sentences using different frequency adverbs. Share them with a friend or teacher for feedback!
By mastering these expressions and patterns, you’ll be well on your way to sounding natural and fluent in Japanese. Remember, practice makes perfectโso use these structures in your daily conversations and writing!
Have questions or need more practice examples? Let me know in the comments below!
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๐ Continue Learning Japanese
- Using Adverbs