How often and how much in Japanese

Level A2

How often and how much in Japanese

Learn how to say how often you do things and whether there is enough of something. Japanese uses frequency words such as “いつも” and “時々,” and interval phrases such as “週に一回.” You’ll also learn how to describe an amount that is sufficient or excessive.

Frequency words

These words describe how often something happens, from “いつも” (always) to “全然” (never, with a negative verb). English “never” is negative on its own, but “全然” normally needs a negative verb, as in “全然読まない.” “めったに” also means rarely and is used with a negative verb.

Using frequency words in a sentence

Frequency words usually come before the verb: “彼女はいつも七時に起きる。” Japanese verbs do not change for “I,” “she,” or “we,” and speakers often leave out the subject when context makes it clear. With “全然” or “めったに,” use a negative verb: “彼は夜にはめったに働かない。” These examples use plain forms. Use polite forms such as “ます” when the situation calls for them.

Words for intervals and counts

“どのくらいの頻度で” asks how often. “毎” combines with a time word, as in “毎晩” (every evening) or “毎週” (every week). Use “一回” for once and “二回” for twice; “回” counts occurrences.

  • どのくらいの頻度(ひんど)でhow often
  • 毎(まい)every
  • 一回(いっかい)once
  • 二回(にかい)twice

Asking how often

Put “どのくらいの頻度で” before the activity. The plain question is “どのくらいの頻度で洗濯する？” The polite question is “それで、どのくらいの頻度で夜に働きますか？” The verb ending changes with the level of politeness.

どのくらいの頻度(ひんど)で活動を表す動詞句？

Saying something happens every period

Combine “毎” with a time word: “毎晩” means every evening, while “毎週土曜日” means every Saturday. Put the time phrase before the activity. Expressions such as “毎晩” normally take no time particle; with a weekday, に can mark when the activity happens, as in “毎週土曜日に洗濯する。” It can also be omitted here. These examples use plain, informal verb forms; use polite verb forms in a polite setting.

毎(まい)時間の単位、活動。／毎週曜日に活動。

Saying how many times per period

Put the period first, then “に” and the count: “月に一回” means once a month, and “週に二回” means twice a week. “回” is the counter for number of times; unlike English “once” and “twice,” Japanese combines a number with this counter. The examples use plain verb forms; use polite forms when the situation calls for them.

期間に一回(いっかい)／二回／数回、活動。

Words for enough and too much

“十分” means enough, while “多すぎる” means too much or too many. Japanese uses “多すぎる” with both things you count and amounts such as work or water; English changes the phrase according to whether the noun is countable.

Saying there is enough

One way to say there is enough is to put the thing first, then “は” and “十分にある”: “椅子はみんなの分、十分にある。” To say there is not enough, use “十分にない”: “本を読む時間が十分にない。” These examples use plain forms; use polite forms when the situation calls for them.

物・時間が十分(じゅうぶん)にある／ない。

Saying there is too much or too many

Put the thing first and describe it as “多すぎる”: “今日は仕事が多すぎる。” The same expression works for amounts and countable things: “この部屋、椅子が多すぎる。” These examples use plain forms; use polite forms when the situation calls for them.

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