大変
0%
Log in to evaluate your pronunciation.
No feedback yet. Please speak to see your results.
Base na-adjective form. Used to intensify adjectives or describe serious situations. Functions as an adverb when modifying verbs or adjectives.
Theme
User and their coworker Ken are chatting during a break about recent challenges and personal experiences.
大変
たいへん
very / serious
Core Language Building BlocksAdverbs & Connectors
Memory Hook
Think of 'taihen' as 'tie hen' — when something is very difficult, you might tie a knot and say 'tie hen!' to express how hard it is. 'Tie hen' → 大変 (taihen, 'very').
Cultural Note
『大変』 (taihen, 'very') is commonly used in everyday conversation to emphasize situations, such as 『大変だ！』 (taihen da!, 'It's terrible!') or 『大変おいしい』 (taihen oishii, 'very delicious'). It adds strong emphasis to adjectives or nouns.
Forms
Base: 大変Base na-adjective form. Used to intensify adjectives or describe serious situations. Functions as an adverb when modifying verbs or adjectives.
Negative: 大変じゃないAdd 『じゃない』 (janai, 'not') to base → 『大変じゃない』 (taihen janai).
Past: 大変だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past) to base → 『大変だった』 (taihen datta).
Adverbial: 大変にAdd 『に』 (ni) to base → 『大変に』 (taihen ni). Used to modify verbs or adjectives in a formal or literary style.
Comparative: より大変Comparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番大変Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective.