Learn Japanese! This Japanese article might just be more than you expected. Seriously, if you want to say things such as, “This gift is more than I ever expected!” you’ll learn how to do it here. Also, if you have any questions about formal and informal Japanese, this is the place to look. In this Beginner Japanese article, discover the many ways to use Nakanaka, a Japanese adverb meaning “quite, considerably,” or “more than expected.” In addition, you’ll find a comprehensive review of formal and informal Japanese speech with the helpful charts included. Don’t miss the one important exception to the rule that you’ll only find here!

Vocabulary: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

okaeri – “welcome back, welcome home”

Tadaima. – “I’m home.”

ryokoo – “trip, travel”

nakanaka – “quite, very, considerably”

tanoshii – “enjoyable, fun” (-i ending adjective)

samui – “cold” (-i ending adjective)

kimochi – “feeling”

tsuaa – “tour”

toshiyori – “the elderly, old people”

ooi – “many, a lot” (-i ending adjective)

hanasu – “to speak, to talk” (verb 1)

Roppongi – “Roppongi” (a town in Tokyo)

kurabu – “nightclub, club”

tsurete iku – “to take someone” (verb 1)

wakai – “young” (-i ending adjective)

Grammar: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

nakanaka

Nakanaka is an adverb meaning “quite, considerably,” or “more than expected.”

For Example:

1. Kono hon wa naka naka omoshiroi yo. “This dewaqq book is quite interesting.”

toshiyori

Toshiyori means, “old people.” The honorific prefix o often precedes this word.

tsurete iku

In Beginner Series Season 4 Article 17, you learned the usage of the following words:

motte iku – “to take something along”

tsurete iku – “to take someone or an animal along”

motte kuru – “to bring something along”

tsurete kuru – “to bring someone or an animal along”

*The direction is marked with e or ni and the object is marked by o.

Examples:

1. Watashi wa paatii ni wain o motte ikimasu. “I’ll take wine to the party.”
2. Watashi wa paatii ni kareshi o tsurete ikimasu. I’ll take my boyfriend to the party.

Iku vs. Kuru

Generally, iku corresponds with “to go,” and kuru corresponds with “to come” in English. However, we describe the action of the speaker approaching the listener with iku, not kuru.

For Example:

1. Watashi wa anata no ie ni shichi-ji ni ikimasu. “I’m going to come to your place at seven.” (Literally: “I’m going to go to your place at seven.”)
2. Ima ikimasu. “I’m coming.” (Literally: “I’m going.”)

Grammar Review

In this article, we’re going to learn more about formal and informal speech by reviewing the past form of adjectives.

“It was cold.”

Informal: samukatta.

Formal: samukatta desu.

“It wasn’t cold.”

Informal: samukunakatta.