Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 5/21

かなりQuite, Considerably, Pretty, Fairly

Structure

かなり + Phrase
かなり + の + Noun

Details

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    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    可也

About かなり

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).

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.

Examples

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    友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)、地図(ちず)を見(み)て：「ここはかなり遠(とお)くの方(ほう)だね。」

    Chat between friends, after looking at the map: 'This place is quite far away, isn't it?'

    会社(かいしゃ)の社長(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)がかかりそうですよ。」

    Company president: 'Let's adopt the new system.'
    Company employee: 'Understood. However, it seems to be quite expensive.'

    配送会社(はいそうかいしゃ)、労働者(ろうどうしゃ)１(いち)：「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(に)：「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…'

    文法(ぶんぽう)ちゃん：「ユーザーさんの日本語(にほんご)は、かなり上級(じょうきゅう)レベルだと思(おも)う。」

    Bunpou-chan: 'I think that User-san's Japanese is of quite a high level.'

    従業員(じゅうぎょういん)の噂話(うわさばなし)：「次長(じちょう)は、家(いえ)ではお孫(まご)さんに優(やさ)しいおじいちゃんらしいよ。そんな風(ふう)に見(み)えないけどね。会社(かいしゃ)ではかなり厳(きび)しい人(ひと)だから。」

    Employees gossiping: 'I heard that the vice-director is a gentle grandpa who is sweet to his grandchild at home. He doesn't look like that though, right? Because he is fairly strict at the company.'

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かなり – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • AdalwinAmillion

    AdalwinAmillion

    What is the difference between 可也 and ちゃと・きちんと?

    Does ちゃんと・きちんと mean that something has been done to an acceptable level while 可也 means it has been surpassed?

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @AdalwinAmillion
    Hey

    かなり means that degree of something is above average, above one has expected (but not extreme). Can be translated as quite, considerably.

    かなり大きな車
    Quite a big car (bigger than average, not as big as bus though)

    かなり長い時間待っていた
    I have waited quite some time.

    きちんと and ちゃんと mean that something is done in a manner that is (widely) considered correct or standard. To do something properly.

    A parent can say something like this to a child when it greets people in a rude (considered incorrect) manner:

    ちゃんと挨拶しなさい.
    Do your greetings properly!

    (When you have dropped your smartphone and it doesn’t work as it should, for example, it blinks all the time, or just doesn’t turn on)

    スマホはちゃんと動かない。
    My smartphone doesn’t work properly...

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