Frequency Adverbs 回数の副詞
こんにちは皆さん！私はサクラです。For today's post, we will be talking about frequency adverbs. When talking to people or friends in Japan, sometimes they might ask you if you do a certain activity very often or not all the time. Without knowing how to answer properly, it can be a little troublesome. With that said, here are some useful words to explain how frequent you perform an activity.
1.よく（yoku)
よく means "often," and you would use this term to describe things you or someone else does more than "sometimes," but not as frequent as "usually." If you were to say, "I often come here," you would say 「よくここに行きます」(yoku koko ni ikimasu).
Examples
私はよく新聞を読みます。
Watashi wa yoku shinbun o yomimasu
.I often read the newspaper.
よく歌いますか？
Yoku utaimasuka?
Do you oftentimes sing?
2.たいてい (taitei)
たいてい would be "usually" in English. If you do an activity more than often, you would use たいてい. Using this term also means that the subject of the sentence does said verb on a regular basis.
Examples
彼はたいていコーヒーメーカーを使います。
Kare wa taitei ko-hi-me-ka o tsukaimasu.
He regularly uses the coffee machine.
私はたいてい教科書で勉強します。
Watashi wa taitei kyoukasho de benkyoushimasu.
I usually study with a textbook.
ジョンさんはたいてい四時に家に帰ります。
Jon san wa taitei yoji ni ie ni kaerimasu.
John usually returns home at four.
3.時々（tokidoki)
時々 means "sometimes." It is used when someone does something more than occasionally but not frequently.
Examples
私は時々心理について書きます。
Watashi wa tokidoki shinri nitsuite kakimasu.
I sometimes write about philosophy.
はい、時々アイスクリームを食べます。
Hai, tokidoki aisukuri-mu o tabemasu.
Yes, sometimes I eat ice cream.
アミさんは時々コーヒを飲みます。
Ami san wa tokidoki co-hi o nomimasu.
Amy sometimes drinks coffee.
4.あまり(amari)
あまり relates to よく, but it is the polar opposite of it. The closest translation for this term would be "not very often." Compared to the other adverbs mentioned, you must make sure that the verb is in negative form. This is because you are saying the subject of the sentence is not doing said verb often.
Examples
いいえ、あまり新聞を読みません。
Iie, amari shinbun o yomimasen.
No, I do not read the newspapers much.
私はあまり郵便局に行きません。
Watashi wa amari yuubinkyoku ni ikimasen.
Not very often would I go to the post office.
たろうさんはあまりロックを聞きません。
Tarou san wa amari rokku o kikimasen.
Taro does not listen to rock music very often.
5.全然 (zenzen)
全然 is Japanese for "never" or "not at all." This is the adverb you would use if you or someone does not perform said verb at all. Of course, like あまり, the verb must be in negative form.
Examples
私は全然タバコをすいません。
Watashi wa zenzen tabako o suimasen.
I never smoke tobacco/cigarette/etc.
その人は全然宿題をしません。
Sono hito wa zenzen shukudai o shimasen.
That person never does homework.
全然バレイを見ません。
Zenzen barei o mimasen.
I do not watch ballet at all.
6.いつも (itsumo)
いつも means "always" in Japanese. When someone says they always perform a certain verb, then they would use いつも. However, you must be very careful. If you were to say 「私はいつも読みます」(Watashi wa itsumo yomimasu) or "I am always reading," the listener might expect you to carry a book every single day.
Examples
彼はいつも大騒ぎします。
Kare wa itsumo oosawagishimasu.
He always makes an uproar.
彼女はいつも文句を言われています。
Kanojo wa itsumo mongu o iwareteimasu.
She always complaining (much to my annoyance).
夏の間に、ジョンさんはいつも水を飲みます。
Natsu no aida ni, Jon san wa itsumo mizu o nomimasu.
During the summer, John always drinks water.
7.毎日 (mainichi)
毎日 literally means "everyday." It is a bit different from いつも because if someone does something everyday, it could mean that they do it once a day rather than all the time.
Examples
毎日出かける前に歯を磨きます。
Mainichi, dekakeru mae ni ha wo migakimasu.
Everyday, I would brush my teeth before going out.
毎日彼は泣いてしまいました。
Mainichi kare wa naiteshimaimashita.
(To my regret) He cries everyday.
毎日洗濯をします。
Mainichi sentaku o shimasu.
I do the laundry every day.
These adverbs can let the listener know when you perform certain activities. Additionally, they can also give you an idea of how frequent the person in the sentence does something. If you can remember when to use a negative or a positive verb for the adverb, using these adverbs will be a simple task.That’s it for today’s lesson! これが終わります！ありがとうございました！
Source(s) I have used for Additional Information:
Difference Between “Usually” and “Often”-www.differencebetween.net
Japanese lessons 10-Frequency adverbs in Japanese-js-language.com
Illustration was made by yours-truly
