Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 10: 11/20

わざわざExpressly, Especially, Go out of one's way, Take the trouble to

わざと means "on purpose!"

Structure

わざわざ + Phrase

Details

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About わざわざ

わざわざ is an adverb that is used to express when someone has gone out of their way to achieve a certain result. It may be translated as 'expressly', 'especially', or 'to go out of one's way to (A)'.

わざわざ will usually be used at the beginning of sentences, before some statement will be made about an activity that was intentionally done.

わざわざ has a tendency to be used positively, although it may be used with negative connotations as well.

Fun Fact

Although almost never used, 態態(わざわざ) may be seen in this kanji form. 態(わざ) is a kanji used to express 'purpose', or 'intent'. Generally, it refers to someone's 'willingness' to do something. As such, わざわざ just expresses that (A) is something that the speaker has as a strong goal. How it will be translated depends more on whether the actual result is positive, negative, or undecided.

Positive result - To purposefully do (A), with the result of (A).

Negative result - To have every intention of (A), with the actual result of (B).

Undecided result - To be intent on (A), with (A) hopefully happening.

Caution

わざと is a construction that comes from the same kanji as わざわざ. わざと generally only conveys 'on purpose', while わざわざ has many more potential meanings (due to being stronger).

  • わざと押(お)したでしょ？あんた最低(さいてい)。
    You pushed me on purpose, didn't you? You are the worst.
  • 何(なん)でわざわざ邪魔(じゃま)しに来(く)るの？
    Why do you come here especially to bother me?

Examples

--:--

    わざわざここまで働(はたら)きに来(き)ているんですね。

    I see you came here expressly to work.

    わざわざ批判(ひはん)しなくてもいいのに。

    You didn't have to go out of your way to criticize.

    わざわざ独(ひと)りで行(い)くんですか？

    You will go out of your way just to go by yourself?

    わざわざ傘(かさ)を返(かえ)しに来(き)てくれたの？

    Did you come all the way here expressly to return the umbrella?

    わざわざ自慢(じまん)しなくてもいいじゃないか。

    You don't have to go out of your way to boast about it, do you?

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わざわざ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • blingling

    blingling

    Interesting how I got this grammar point today when I watched this video earlier! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1ZKMGFqfo

    anw according to the video わざわざ feels a bit negative towards younger people nowadays. And it’s not really reflected towards textbooks and articles as of yet so I’ll share this for this discussion

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