とても

とても means very; extremely. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to intensify adjectives and some descriptive phrases.

This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to intensify adjectives and some descriptive phrases, とても is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.

What does とても mean?

Use とても when you want to intensify adjectives and some descriptive phrases.

Natural translations include:

• very
• extremely
• very; extremely

The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.

How to form とても

とても + adjective

Examples of the pattern:

• とても高い
• とても静か
• とても好き

Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.

When is とても used?

Use とても in situations like:

• describing degree
• giving opinions
• emphasizing feelings

Tone and register:

• neutral and common
• Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions

とても example sentences

• 今日はとても暑いです。 — It is very hot today.
• この本はとても面白いです。 — This book is very interesting.
• 日本語はとても楽しいです。 — Japanese is very fun.
• この町はとても静かです。 — This town is very quiet.
• 先生はとても親切です。 — The teacher is very kind.

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, comparison, or obligation.

Nuance of とても

The key nuance is adds strong degree without necessarily meaning “too much”.

This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For とても, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.

For example:

• In conversation, it helps the listener understand adds strong degree without necessarily meaning “too much”.
• Compared with すぎる, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.

とても vs すぎる

Both とても and すぎる can express related ideas, but they are different.

とても:

• means very
• does not automatically mean excessive

すぎる:

• means too much or too
• often suggests a problem or excess

Quick contrast examples:

• この本はとても高いです。— This book is very expensive.
• この本は高すぎます。— This book is too expensive.

If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, compare two things, or express obligation.

Common mistakes with とても

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using とても with verbs directly
• Confusing “very” with “too”
• Overusing it when a more specific adjective would be clearer

A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.

Is とても on the JLPT?

Yes. とても is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.

Practice questions for とても

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say today is very hot.
• Say the book is very interesting.
• Say the teacher is very kind.

Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.

Learning path for とても

1. First, make one short sentence with とても.
2. Next, compare it with すぎる to see how “very” differs from “too.”
3. Then, try adding ほうがいい or はどうですか to see how the basic meaning changes.
4. Finally, write one example with a different subject or time word, and one example that contrasts it with a related pattern below.

Related grammar to review next

• すぎる — reviews another pattern for comparison, degree, or evaluation.
• ほうがいい — contrasts with this pattern from the request, permission, prohibition, and obligation grammar group.
• はどうですか — contrasts with this pattern from the question, explanation, and confirmation grammar group.
• より～ほうが — reviews another pattern for comparison, degree, or evaluation.

Learn とても with Hane

If you want to review とても together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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