6.3 Frequency Words
In Japanese, frequency words play a crucial role in expressing how often something happens. They help convey the degree of frequency, ranging from ‘always’ to ‘never’.
Introduction to frequency words
Frequency words are essential for indicating how often something occurs. They are particularly useful when using the ます-form to discuss the frequency of activities. In this textbook, we will focus on the following frequency words:
1. いつも (itsumo): Always
2. よく (yoku): Often
3. ときどき (tokidoki): Sometimes
4. あまり (amari): Not often, rarely
5. ぜんぜん (zenzen): Never, not at all
Usage in sentences
These frequency words function as adverbs in sentences, typically placed after a time reference word if present (please refer to Module 6.1 for more details on time reference words). Otherwise, they come after the topic particle は. Here’s a typical sentence structure:
Topic は + Time reference word (に) + Frequency word + Object を + Verb ます。
Please keep in mind that Japanese word order is relatively flexible, so there may be adjustments, particularly in conversational contexts.
1. いつも (itsumo): Always
It indicates something happens consistently, every time.
Example:
私は朝（あさ）いつもコーヒー（こおひい）を飲（の）みます。
Watashi wa asa itsumo koohii o nomi masu.
I always drink coffee in the morning.
2. よく (yoku): Often
It indicates something happens frequently but not necessarily all the time.
Example:
週末（しゅうまつ）よく友達（ともだち）と遊（あそ）びます。
Shuumatsu yoku tomodachi to asobi masu.
I often play with friends on the weekend.
NOTE: 友達と means ‘with friends,’ using the particle と to denote companionship. This phrase functions as a modifier, typically coming after adverbs like the frequency word よく.
3. ときどき (tokidoki): Sometimes
It indicates something happens occasionally, not regularly.
Example:
私（わたし）はときどき家族（かぞく）と映画（えいが）を見（み）ます。
Watashi wa tokidoki kazoku to eiga o mimasu.
I sometimes watch movies with my family.
4. あまり (amari): Not often, rarely
It indicates something happens infrequently, or not as much as expected. Unlike other frequency words, it is typically used in negative sentences, such as あまり … ません.
Example:
あまりテレビを見ません。
Amari terebi o mi masen.
I don’t watch TV often.
5. ぜんぜん (zenzen): Never, not at all
It indicates something never happens or is completely absent. Like the word あまり, ぜんぜん is also typically used in negative sentences, such as ぜんぜん … ません.
Example:
友達はぜんぜん勉強（べんきょう）しません。でも、テスト（てすと）はいつもいいです。
Tomodachi wa zenzen benkyou shi masen. Demo, tesuto wa ii desu.
My friend never studies, but (her) test (scores) are always good.
NOTE: In casual conversation, ぜんぜん can sometimes be used affirmatively, such as in expressions like ぜんぜん大丈夫（だいじょうぶ）です。(Zenzen daijoubu desu.) meaning ‘It’s perfectly fine’.
Exercise 1
