とても/すごく (totemo/sugoku) - expressing 'very' and 'really'

These words are adverbs. This means they modify adjectives and verbs. You place them right before the word you want to boost. It is like adding a "super" or "very" in English. They do not change based on tense. They do not change based on gender. They stay exactly the same. You just drop them in. It is one of the easiest ways to sound more natural.

1. 1Using these words is a simple three-step process:
2. 2Pick the adjective or verb you want to emphasize. For example, oishii (delicious).
3. 3Choose your degree word. Use totemo for a polite vibe. Use sugoku for a casual vibe.
4. 4Place the degree word directly before the target word.
5. 5Result: totemo oishii (very delicious) or sugoku oishii (really delicious).

Use totemo when you want to be clear and polite. It is the "safe" choice for most situations. Imagine you are in a job interview. You want to say the company is very famous. You would say totemo yuumei. It sounds professional and respectful.

Use sugoku when you are with friends or family. It has more "punch" and emotion. It feels more modern and energetic. Imagine you just saw a cute dog. You would shout sugoku kawaii! to your friend. It shows you are genuinely excited.

Real-world scenarios:

• Ordering food: "This is very spicy!" (totemo karai desu).
• Asking directions: "Is the station very far?" (eki wa totemo tooi desu ka?).
• Job interview: "I am very interested." (totemo kyoumi ga arimasu).
• Hanging out: "That movie was really scary!" (ano eiga, sugoku kowakatta!).

Do not use these words to modify nouns directly. You cannot say totemo inu for "very dog." That makes no sense! You must use an adjective. Say totemo ookii inu (a very big dog) instead.

Also, avoid using sugoku in very formal writing. If you are writing a letter to a professor, stick with totemo. Using sugoku there is like wearing flip-flops to a black-tie gala. It is a bit too relaxed.

Finally, be careful with negative sentences. While totemo...nai exists, it is usually for higher levels. For A2, use amari for "not very." Stick to using totemo and sugoku for positive emphasis.

Native speakers might giggle if you mix these up, but they will understand. One common error is using sugoi instead of sugoku. Sugoi is an adjective (great/amazing). Sugoku is the adverb form.

✗ sugoi atsui (Technically wrong, though common in slang).

✓ sugoku atsui (Grammatically correct).

Another mistake is double-stacking them without reason. You do not need to say totemo sugoku. Pick one and commit! It is like wearing two hats at once. One is enough to get the point across.

How do these compare to other degree words?

• Chotto: This means "a little." It is the opposite of totemo.
• Amari: This means "not very" and is used with negative endings.
• Sugoku vs. Totemo: Sugoku is more emotional. Totemo is more objective.
• Meccha: This is super casual slang (Kansai style). Save this for your closest friends!

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Totemo is the green light—go anywhere with it. Sugoku is the yellow light—use it with caution in formal spots.