Japanese Quantity Expressions

In today's article we will study the quantity expressions, they are used as adverbial phrases. If you still don't know what we're talking about, we refer to the expressions: a lot, a little, many, not a lot, rarely, etc.

The word order is usually [noun + particle + quantity + verb]. When used to modify adjectives, they come before the adjective, for example: とても熱い(Totemo atsui – Very hot).

See below for the most commonly used expressions of quantities:

Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
plenty
たくさん
many, so much
totem
とても
very
kanari
かなり
considerably
zuibun
ずいぶん
extremely
yoku
よく
often / frequently
a little
少し
a little
chotto
ちょっと
a little
(less formal than "sukoshi".)
love
あまり
(not) a lot, (not) so much, rarely (used in the negative)
zenzen
全然
not at all (used in the negative)

Phrases expressing quantity in Japanese

Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
Hon o takusan yomimasu.
本をたくさん読みます.
I read a lot of books.
Totemo oishii desu.
とてもおいしいです.
It is very delicious.
Time is quite tight, isn't it?
時間がかなりかかるでしょう.
It will take considerable time.
Nihongo o sukoshi hanashimasu.
日本語を少し話します.
I speak a little Japanese.
Igirisu no jamu wa totemo oishīdesu.
イギリスのジャムはとてもおいしいです。
UK jelly is very tasty.
I can play the piano a little bit.
ピアノをちょっと弾くことができます.
I know how to play a little piano.
Igirisu no jamu wa amari oishiku arimasen.
イギリスのジャムはあまりおいしくありません.
UK jelly is not very tasty.
Amari chigai ga arimasen.
あまり違いがありません.
There isn't much difference.
Zenzen yokunakatta desu.
全然良くなかったです.
He wasn't good at everything.

I hope this little lesson has helped you to learn a little more about quantity expressions. Decorating and using these expressions are easy, and with time you get used to it.

As an exercise, leave us comments on some example sentences that you are able to assemble using these expressions.

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