JLPT N4 Vocabulary – The usage of “だいぶ”
Table of Contents
1. The usage of “だいぶ”
2. だいぶ
3. Usage ①: Beyond Expectations
4. Usage ②: Progression of a State
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: My Japanese friend told me that the sentence “マリアさんはだいぶ日本語が上手です” feels unnatural. What is wrong with it?
A: “だいぶ” expresses “a degree beyond expectations” or “the progression of a state,” but when used with adjectives, additional supporting expressions are often required. Let’s take a closer look at why.
だいぶ (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
①A state where the quantity is greater than expected, or the amount/degree exceeds predictions
②A state where something has progressed or changed compared to before
[Examples]
海外旅行でだいぶお金を使いました。（①）
I spent quite a lot of money on my overseas trip.
ここでの生活は想像とだいぶ違っていました。（①）
Life here was quite different from what I had imagined.
だいぶ日本の生活に慣れてきました。（②）
I have gradually gotten used to life in Japan.
だいぶ元気になりました。（②）
I have recovered quite a bit.
Usage ①: Beyond Expectations
The first meaning of “だいぶ” expresses the speaker’s surprise when the quantity or degree is beyond expectations. This nuance must be understood from the context or situation. It can be used not only for visually perceptible things but also for abstract concepts.
[Examples]
あれ、財布にもう千円しかない！知らないうちにお金をだいぶ使っていたな．．．。
Oh no, I only have 1,000 yen left in my wallet! I must have spent quite a lot of money without realizing it…
⇒ This expresses that the speaker unintentionally spent more money than expected.
朝9時に家を出たのにもう12時か。思っていたよりもだいぶ時間が掛かったね。
We left home at 9 AM, but it’s already 12 PM. It took much longer than I expected.
⇒ This emphasizes that more time was needed than originally planned.
From this perspective, if you want to express that Maria’s Japanese is better than expected, you can say: “思った以上に、マリアさんの日本語はだいぶ上手だ。”
However, when using “だいぶ” with adjectives (unlike verbs), it is necessary to add expressions such as “思った以上に” or “予想以上に” to clarify the meaning.
[Examples]
マリアさんは日本語が上手だと聞いていましたが、思った以上にだいぶ上手ですね！
I had heard that Maria was good at Japanese, but she is much better than I expected!
⇒ This expresses that Maria’s Japanese was better than the speaker’s expectations.
あの映画はつまらないと聞いていたけど、予想以上にだいぶ良かったよ。
I heard that the movie was boring, but it was actually much better than I expected.
⇒ This expresses that the movie was better than the speaker had anticipated.
Usage ②: Progression of a State
The second meaning of “だいぶ” indicates the progression of a situation.
Here, the key point is “something is progressing or changing over time.”
To express this state, verbs or adjectives often take the form of “なる” or “てくる” to indicate ongoing change.
[Examples]
だいぶ仕事に慣れてきました。
I’ve gotten quite used to my work.
⇒ This expresses that the speaker has gradually become accustomed to their work over time.
だいぶ英語が話せるようになりました。
I’ve become quite able to speak English.
⇒ This expresses an improvement in the speaker’s ability to speak English compared to before.
From this perspective, if “上手だ” is understood as a progressing state, it can be expressed as:
“マリアさんは日本語がだいぶ上手になりました” (Maria has become quite proficient in Japanese.)
Summary
The meaning of “だいぶ” can be categorized into the following two aspects:
- It expresses that the quantity or degree is beyond expectations, often reflecting the speaker’s surprise.
- It indicates the progression of a situation or state. When expressing progression, verbs or adjectives often take the form of “なる” or “てくる” to show the ongoing change.
Quiz
Is the following sentence correct? Answer with ◯ or ×.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. ×
*”だいぶ” is not suitable for expressing the degree of “deliciousness.” Instead, words like “とても”(very) or “非常に”(extremely) would be more appropriate.
A. ◯
*”元気になった” expresses the progression of a state, so this usage is correct.
A. ×
*”だいぶ” does not simply indicate a large quantity, so this usage is incorrect.
A. ◯
*This expresses a state beyond expectations, so the usage is correct.
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