Totemo is mainly used in two different ways in Japanese, explained

What does “totemo” mean in Japanese?

Probably, many Japanese learners know “totemo” as it is quite often used in Japanese conversations. Native speakers use it mainly in two different ways: to emphasize the meaning of its following word; to make a strong negative expression. In this blog post, I will explain these two usages through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “totemo” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• “Totemo” to emphasize the meaning of its following word
  • Example #1: how to emphasize an adjective
• “Totemo” to make a strong negative expression
  • Example #2: how to make a strong negative expression with “nai”
• Summary

“Totemo” to emphasize the meaning of its following word

Let me start with “totemo” used to emphasize the meaning of its following word.

• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese.

Native speakers use this type of “totemo” mainly before an adjective to emphasize its meaning. So, its usage is very similar to those of the English adverbs like “very”, “much”, “so”, or such. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to emphasize an adjective

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is mainly used by boys and young males.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its possessive case, “boku no”, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• inu – 犬 (いぬ) : a noun meaning ‘dog’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku no inu” to make the subject in the sentence.
• kawaii – 可愛い (かわいい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cute’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of this type of “totemo”. In this example, it works to emphasize the meaning of its following i-adjective, “kawaii”. When we want to emphasize the meaning of an adjective with an adverb of degree, “totemo” is a very good option.

“Totemo” to make a strong negative expression

Next, let me explain “totemo” used to make a strong negative expression in a sentence.

• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree mainly used with “nai” to make a strong negative expression in a sentence.

Basically, this “totemo” has the same role as the last one explained above: it can work to make an emphasized expression. This type, however, doesn’t necessarily work before an adjective, but often needs to work with “nai”. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to make a strong negative expression with “nai”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• isha – 医者 (いしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘(medical) doctor’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say what someone becomes after a change or action. In the example, this is used after “isha” to say what “kare” cannot become.
• na – な : one conjugation of the verb, “naru”, which means ‘to become’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• re – れ : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, “reru”, which is used to make the potential form of the preceding verb. In the example, this is used after “na” to make its potential form, “na re”, which literally means ‘can become’ in Japanese.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. In the example, this is used after “na re” to deny its meaning, ‘can become’.

This is a typical usage of this “totemo”. In this example, it works together with “nai” to make the strong negative expression in Japanese. It has been reflected as ‘to be nearly impossible’ in translation.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the two different types of “totemo” with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese. Native speakers use this type of “totemo” mainly before an adjective to emphasize its meaning. So, its usage is very similar to those of the English adverbs like “very”, “much”, “so”, or such.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree mainly used with “nai” to make a strong negative expression in a sentence. Basically, this “totemo” has the same role as the last one explained above: it can work to make an emphasized expression. This type, however, doesn’t necessarily work before an adjective, but often needs to work with “nai”. When we want to make a strong negative expression in Japanese, the combination of “totemo” and “nai” is a good option.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.