Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 4: 5/21

かなり
quite, considerably, pretty, fairly

Structure
かなり + Phrase
かなり + + Noun
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
可也
Information
かなり is an adverb that is used to convey a ‘considerable’ amount of something. It is often translated as ‘quite’, ‘fairly’, ‘considerably’, or ‘pretty’. かなり will almost always appear directly before a phrase, or directly before a noun (in which case の will come between the noun and かなり).
  • 今月(こんげつ)もかなりお金(かね)使(つか)ったね。
    This month we used a considerable amount of money again, didn't we?
  • 今日(きょう)は一日(いちにち)中(じゅう)仕事(しごと)ていたからかなり疲(つか)れた。
    Because I was working all day today, I am pretty tired.
  • メキシコまでかなり距離(きょり)があるから、船(ふね)行(い)くより飛行機(ひこうき)行(い)った方(ほう)が早(はや)くつく。
    Since there is a considerable distance to Mexico, you will get there quicker if you go by airplane, rather than by boat.
  • 昨日(きのう)事故(じこ)でかなり人(ひと)怪我(けが)した。
    Quite a lot of people got hurt in the accident yesterday.
Fun Fact
かなり originally came from 可也(かなり), and more recently 可成(かなり). Both of these expressions mean something similar to ‘to become undeniable’, with the former structure using an older kanji for ‘to become’ 也(なり). かなり is still used this way today, highlighting that the amount/existence of something has reached a point that cannot be denied. かなり may be seen with this meaning when carrying either positive and negative connotations.
  • 初(はじ)めて作(つく)ったの?かなり美味(おい)しいよ!
    You made it for the first time? It's pretty good!
  • かなり痛(いた)いです。骨(ほね)折(お)れていると思(おも)いますか?
    It's quite painful. Do you think a bone is broken?
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友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)地図(ちず)を見(み)て:「ここかなり遠(とお)くの方(ほう)。」
Chat between friends, after looking at the map: "This place is quite far away, isn’t it?"
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会社(かいしゃ)社長(しゃちょう):「新(あたら)しいシステムを導入(どうにゅう)しよう。」
社員(しゃいん):「わかりました。でもかなり費用(ひよう)がかかりそうです。」
Company president: "Let’s adopt the new system."
Company employee: "Understood. However, it seems to be quite expensive."
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配送会社(はいそうかいしゃ)、労働者(ろうどうしゃ)1:「じゃあ、はやくこれ、(トラックに)積(つ)んでしまおう。」
労働者(ろうどうしゃ)2:「でもこれかなり重(おも)いんだけど。」
Transport company, worker 1: "Well then, let’s quickly load it on the truck."
Worker 2: "But it is quite heavy…"
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