Lesson I
1. まったく（全く）
👉 Meaning: Completely / Totally / (Not) at all
With positive: “completely”
With negative: “not at all”
Example (negative):
日本語がまったくわからない。
→ I don’t understand Japanese at all.
Example (positive):
彼の話はまったくのウソだ。
→ His story is a complete lie.
2. すこしも（少しも）
👉 Meaning: Not even a little (Always used with negatives)
Example:
そのことは少しも知らなかった。
→ I didn’t know that at all.
3. そんなに
👉 Meaning: That much / So much
Used to compare or emphasize a degree, often with negatives.
Example (positive):
そんなにたくさん食べられない。
→ I can’t eat that much.
Example (neutral):
そんなに大事なこと？
→ Is it that important?
4. そう
👉 Meaning: So / Like that
Used to confirm or comment on something previously mentioned.
Example:
そう思います。
→ I think so.
そう言ったよね？
→ You said that, right?
5. たいして（大して）
👉 Meaning: Not very much / Not particularly (Always with negatives)
Example:
彼は大して疲れていないようだ。
→ He doesn’t look very tired.
6. けっして（決して）
👉 Meaning: Never / By no means (Used with negatives for strong denial)
Example:
決してあなたを忘れません。
→ I will never forget you.
決してそんなことはしない。
→ I would never do such a thing.
7. めったに（滅多に）
👉 Meaning: Rarely / Seldom (Used with negatives)
Example:
彼は滅多に怒らない。
→ He rarely gets angry.
8. すでに（既に）
👉 Meaning: Already (formal)
More formal than もう.
Example:
チケットはすでに売り切れた。
→ The tickets are already sold out.
Summary Chart
Expression Meaning in English Notes
まったく Completely / Not at all Depends on positive/negative
すこしも Not even a little Only with negatives
そんなに That much / So Often paired with degree words
そう So / That way Used for agreement or comment
たいして Not very much Only with negatives
けっして Never / Absolutely not Strong denial, always with negative
めったに Rarely / Hardly ever Only with negatives
すでに Already (formal) Often in writing or news
1. すこしずつ（少しずつ）
👉 Meaning: Little by little / Gradually
Example:
病気は少しずつよくなってきた。
→ The illness has gradually improved.
🧠 Pattern:
Often used with verbs of change like よくなる, 慣れる, 減る, etc.
2. しだいに（次第に）
👉 Meaning: Gradually / Bit by bit (more formal than 少しずつ)
Example:
景気は次第に回復している。
→ The economy is gradually recovering.
🧠 Pattern:
Used often in writing, news, or formal speech.
3. ますます（益々）
👉 Meaning: More and more / Increasingly
Example:
日本語がますます上手になってきた。
→ Your Japanese is getting better and better.
🧠 Pattern:
Often used before verbs of increase or intensification (強くなる, 増える, 悪化する, etc.)
⏳ Imminent or Future Timing
4. そのうち
👉 Meaning: Soon / Before long / Eventually
Example:
そのうち雨が降るかもしれない。
→ It might rain soon.
🧠 Pattern:
Often paired with future-looking verbs or speculative endings like 〜だろう, 〜かもしれない
5. いまに（今に）
👉 Meaning: Before long / Sooner or later (with certainty)
Example:
今にわかるようになるよ。
→ You’ll understand soon (just wait).
🧠 Pattern:
Stronger than そのうち — often used with confident predictions.
6. いまにも（今にも）
👉 Meaning: At any moment (imminent action)
Example:
空が暗くなって、今にも雨が降りそうだ。
→ The sky’s dark — it looks like it’ll rain any second.
🧠 Pattern:
Often followed by expressions like 〜そう, 〜しそう, 〜するところ, etc.
🔮 Probability & Possibility
7. もしかしたら / もしかすると
👉 Meaning: Maybe / Perhaps / Possibly
(もしかしたら is slightly more casual.)
Example:
もしかしたら彼は来ないかもしれない。
→ Maybe he won’t come.
🧠 Pattern:
もしかしたら + sentence + かもしれない
8. おそらく（恐らく）
👉 Meaning: Probably / Most likely
Example:
おそらく彼が一番早く着くだろう。
→ He’ll probably arrive first.
🧠 Pattern:
おそらく + sentence + だろう / に違いない
😐 Nuanced Feelings or Uncertainty
9. どうも
👉 Meaning: Depends on context!
Somehow / Seems like / Apparently (when expressing uncertain feelings)
Very / Thank you / Sorry (in other contexts)
Example (uncertainty):
どうも彼は元気がないようだ。
→ Somehow, he doesn’t seem well.
🧠 Pattern:
Often used with expressions like 〜ようだ, 〜らしい, or 〜みたいだ
🧠 Quick Summary Chart
Expression Meaning Usage
少しずつ Little by little Gradual change
次第に Gradually (formal) Formal progression
ますます More and more Intensifying
Expression Meaning Usage
そのうち Eventually / Soon Future, vague
今に Soon (with certainty) Confident future
今にも Any moment Imminent action
もしかしたら / もしかすると Maybe / Possibly Uncertain possibility
おそらく Probably High probability
どうも Somehow / Seems Unclear nuance, suspicion
いまにも（今にも） means "at any moment" or "right now", and it emphasizes that something is about to
happen, typically something imminent or urgent. It suggests that an event or action is very likely to happen
soon.
Usage:
いまにも is often used to describe something that looks like it will happen immediately, or an event that
is on the verge of occurring.
Examples:
1. いまにも雨が降りそうだ。
→ It looks like it will rain at any moment.
2. 空が暗くなって、いまにも雷が鳴りそうだ。
→ The sky has gotten dark, and it looks like thunder will strike at any moment.
3. いまにも泣き出しそうな顔をしている。
→ She looks like she might start crying any second now.
Pattern:
いまにも + verb (short form) + そうだ/らしい/しそうだ
This pattern often connects with verbs like 降る (furu), 泣く (naku), 始める (hajimeru) to show an action that is
about to happen.
1. まるで
👉 Meaning: Just like / As if
Used to make a comparison or describe something that resembles something else (often in an exaggerated
way).
Example:
まるで映画のような景色だ。
→ It’s just like a scene from a movie.
彼はまるでプロのようにギターを弾く。
→ He plays the guitar as if he were a professional.
2. ちょうど
👉 Meaning: Exactly / Just right / Right at the moment
Used to describe something happening at a precise time or something fitting perfectly.
Example:
ちょうど今、電話しようと思っていた。
→ I was just about to call you right now.
この服はちょうどいいサイズだ。
→ This clothes is exactly the right size.
3. ぜひ
👉 Meaning: By all means / Definitely / I hope you will...
Expresses a strong desire or recommendation for someone to do something, or a wish for something to
happen.
Example:
ぜひ一緒に行ってください！
→ Please definitely come with me!
ぜひ試してみてください。
→ You should definitely try it.
4. なんとかして
👉 Meaning: Somehow / By any means
Used when trying to express the idea that something will be done, even if it's difficult or by using any
method necessary.
Example:
なんとかして試験に合格したい。
→ I want to pass the exam somehow.
なんとかしてこの問題を解決しなければならない。
→ I must solve this problem by any means necessary.
5. どうか
👉 Meaning: Please / I hope / Somehow
A polite and humble way to make a request or express a wish, often used when asking for help.
Example:
どうか私を助けてください。
→ Please, help me.
どうかうまくいきますように。
→ I hope everything goes well.
6. もしも
👉 Meaning: If / If by any chance
Used in hypothetical situations or when imagining something that might happen (often combined with 〜たら
or 〜なら).
Example:
もしも雨が降ったら、試合は中止になる。
→ If it rains, the game will be canceled.
もしも君が行けなかったら、僕が代わりに行くよ。
→ If by any chance you can’t go, I’ll go instead.
7. まんいち (万一)
👉 Meaning: If by any chance / In case of an emergency
This is a more formal or somewhat exaggerated way to talk about something happening by chance or in an
unlikely situation.
Example:
万一のことを考えて、保険に入った。
→ I got insurance just in case of an emergency.
万一の時に備えておこう。
→ Let’s prepare for the worst just in case.
8. まんがいち (万が一)
👉 Meaning: In the unlikely event / If something unexpected happens
Very similar to まんいち, but tends to be used more for very rare or unexpected occurrences.
Example:
万が一遅れた場合は、電話してください。
→ In the unlikely event that you’re late, please call me.
万が一の事故に備えて、注意しよう。
→ Let’s be careful in case of an unexpected accident.
9. どんなに
👉 Meaning: No matter how / How much / How...
Used to emphasize the extent of something, often used with adjectives or verbs in questions or statements.
Example:
どんなに忙しくても、休むことが大切だ。
→ No matter how busy you are, it’s important to take a break.
どんなに頑張っても、うまくいかない時がある。
→ No matter how hard you try, there are times when things just don’t go well.
🧠 Summary Table
Expression Meaning in English Usage Example
まるで Just like / As if まるで映画のようだ。 (Like a movie)
ちょうど Exactly / Just right ちょうど今、電話しようと思っていた。 (Right now)
By all means /
ぜひ ぜひ試してみてください。 (Definitely try)
Definitely
Somehow / By any
なんとかして なんとかして解決したい。 (I’ll solve it somehow)
means
どうか Please / I hope どうか助けてください。 (Please help)
もしも If / If by any chance もしも行けなかったら、助けてくれる？ (If you can’t go, will you help?)
If by any chance
まんいち 万一の事態に備えよう。 (Prepare for an emergency)
(formal)
まんがいち In the unlikely event 万が一事故があったら、すぐに連絡してね。 (If by any chance there’s an accident)
どんなに No matter how どんなに頑張っても無理だ。 (No matter how hard I try)
1. いくら
👉 Meaning: How much / How many / No matter how much
Used to ask about the amount of something or to emphasize a limit in a comparison or situation.
Usage (for asking about amount):
いくらですか？
→ How much is it?
Usage (for emphasizing limits):
いくら勉強しても、すぐに忘れてしまう。
→ No matter how much I study, I forget quickly.
いくらお金があっても、幸せにはなれない。
→ No matter how much money you have, you can't become happy.
2. たとえ
👉 Meaning: Even if / Even though
Used for hypothetical situations or to introduce a contrast, often paired with 〜ても to mean "even if something
happens."
Usage:
たとえ雨が降っても、行かなければならない。
→ Even if it rains, I have to go.
たとえ忙しくても、健康を大事にしなければならない。
→ Even though I’m busy, I must take care of my health.
3. せっかく
👉 Meaning: With great effort / At great cost / Since you’ve gone to the trouble
This word expresses the idea that something was done with a special effort or preparation, and often implies that it
would be a waste to not make use of it.
Usage:
せっかく来てくれたのに、会えなくて残念だ。
→ You went to the trouble of coming, but it’s a shame we couldn’t meet.
せっかく作った料理だから、食べてみて。
→ I went to the trouble of making this dish, so please try it.
4. ただ
👉 Meaning: Just / Only
Used to show that something is simple, plain, or not special, or it can mean “only” in terms of quantity or effort.
Usage (showing simplicity or plainness):
ただの人ではない。
→ He’s not just an ordinary person.
この料理はただのサラダではない。
→ This dish isn’t just a simple salad.
Usage (showing a limited quantity or condition):
ただの遊びだよ。
→ It’s just a game.
🧠 Quick Summary Table
Expression Meaning Example
いくら How much / No matter how much いくら勉強しても、忘れる。 (No matter how much I study, I forget.)
たとえ Even if / Even though たとえ雨が降っても行く。 (Even if it rains, I’ll go.)
せっかく With great effort / At great cost せっかく来てくれたのに。 (You came with great effort.)
ただ Just / Only ただの遊びだよ。 (It’s just a game.)
Expression Meaning Example
