Japanese Adverbs List – 120+ Adverbs to Know

Looking for a Japanese adverbs list? A list of fukushi (副詞)?

Yes, that’s right, fukushi means adverb in Japanese.

Now, that you know that important tidbit, let’s move on.

Before you become a genius at Japanese adverbs, I just need to make sure that you know what an adverb is.

So, what’s an adverb? Long story short, It’s a word or phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, among some others. For example, “he runs quickly.” Quickly is an adverb there and it gives us a better sense of how he runs. For example, he can quickly, slowly, giddily, on occasion, or rarely (because he hates running.) So, now that you know what adverbs are, let’s move onto Japanese adverbs.

1. Introduction to Japanese Adverbs

Here’s a quick crash course in Japanese adverbs. Japanese adverbs (fukushi) are either…

• Adverbs made from adjectives
  • i-adjective adverbs (take out the final i and replace it with “ku” to make it an adverb. For example oishii because oishiku)
  • na-adjective adverbs (add “ni” to make it an adverb. For example, kirei because kirei ni)
• Or, adverbs not related to adjectives

You’re going to learn both. While the overall list of Japanese Adverbs contains over 120+ words, there are more for you to know. However, don’t worry too much about all these words. If you read part 4 of this guide, you’ll learn how to learn these words and words in general.

Now, let’s move on to the actual “fukushi.”

2. Adverbs From Adjectives

With all the Japanese adjectives out there, this list can be massive. So, if you can remember that “i-adjectives” get a “ku” to replace the final “i,” and that “na-adjectives” get a “ni,” you’ll be fine.

Here’s a list of some basic Japanese adverbs you should know. And if you want some adverbs that are Japanese antonyms, then click that link.

3. Japanese Adverbs List – Not Related to Adjectives

Below is a 100+ Japanese adverbs list for adverbs of time, frequency/degree, manner and such. These are “fukushi” not related to adjectives.

4. How to Learn Japanese Adverbs

First and foremost, you need to remember how to create “fukushi” from adjectives.

So, as a reminder, remember…

• I-adjective adverbs (take out the final i and replace it with “ku” to make it an adverb. For example oishii because oishiku)
• Na-adjective adverbs (add “ni” to make it an adverb. For example, kirei because kirei ni)

The reason I mention these rules three times now is because repetition is the mother of all learning. You can read something once… and forget it. You can read this all twice and still forget it.However, if you read it 5, 10 or 20 times over a period of time, it’ll get lodged into your brain. Just like how you should now remember that “fukushi” means “adverb.”

So, how do you learn this big Japanese adverbs list?

• Do not try to cram it all. Ever read a dictionary in a 3 or 4 hour sitting? Of course you didn’t. It’s painful and it’s not a good use of your time.
• Review occasionally. How? Print this page. Print the PDF. Re-read once every week or so, by reading these words and saying them out loud. Maybe spend 5 to 10 minutes maximum.

If you want the Japanese Adverbs PDF, click on the image below to download. Yours free.

• More importantly, read actual Japanese. You’ll come across these words… and you’ll wonder, “hmm, I definitely saw 実に before.” You’ll go look up it up and what do you know, it’s that adverb you learned here. And because you’re now coming across it a 4th or 5th time, you’ll never forget it.

– The Main Lingua Junkie