What does “kanarazu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers use kanarazu often to mean ‘definitely’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I’m explaining this word in detail together with example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand kanarazu more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meanings of “kanarazu”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of kanarazu.
- kanarazu – 必ず (かならず) : an adverb often used to mean ‘definitely’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘always’, ‘never’, or such in Japanese.
Native speakers use this adverb often to add the meaning of ‘definitely’ in Japanese. It’s also worth mentioning here that this can add the meaning of ‘never’ in negative sentences.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this adverb through the example sentences below.
How to say “definitely” in Japanese
ashita kanojo wa kanarazu ki masu – 明日彼女は必ず来ます (あしたかのじょはかならずきます)
Tomorrow, she will definitely come.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ashita – 明日 (あした) : a noun meaning ‘tomorrow’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to mean ‘tomorrow’ in Japanese.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after kanojo to make the subject in the sentence.
- ki – 来 (き) : one conjugation of the verb, kuru, which means ‘to come’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of the Japanese masu form. In the example, this is used after ki to make it sound polite.
This is a typical usage of kanarazu. In this example, it works in the middle of the sentence to add the meaning of ‘definitely’ in Japanese.
Another example of “kanarazu”
watashi no musume wa kanarazu yasai wo tabe nai – 私の娘は必ず野菜を食べない (わたしのむすめはかならずやさいをたべない)
My daughter never eats vegetables.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after watashi to make its possessive case, watashi no, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
- musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning a ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- yasai – 野菜 (やさい) : a noun meaning a ‘vegetable’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after yasai to make the object in the sentence.
- tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of the verb, taberu, which means ‘to eat’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of not in English.
This is another example of kanarazu. In this example, it works in the negative sentence to add the meaning of ‘never’ in Japanese.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of kanarazu in detail together with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kanarazu – 必ず (かならず) : an adverb often used to mean ‘definitely’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘always’, ‘never’, or such in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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