大変(たいへん)

たいへん
adverb
very, terribly
1. very, terribly
To a great degree (adverb use).
大変(たいへん)おいしいです。
It's very delicious.
大変(たいへん)お世話(せわ)になりました。
Thank you very much for everything.
大変(たいへん)申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません。
I'm terribly sorry.
大変(たいへん)よくできました。
You did very well.
先生(せんせい)に大変(たいへん)お世話(せわ)になりました。卒業(そつぎょう)できたのは先生(せんせい)のおかげです。
The teacher helped me a great deal. I was able to graduate thanks to the teacher.
2. difficult, serious
A situation that is hard to deal with (na-adjective use).
大変(たいへん)ですね。
That's tough.
大変(たいへん)な仕事(しごと)ですね。
That's difficult work.
子供(こども)が三人(さんにん)いて、大変(たいへん)です。
I have three children, so it's hard.
大変(たいへん)な時(とき)に助(たす)けてくれてありがとう。
Thank you for helping me during a difficult time.
毎日(まいにち)残業(ざんぎょう)があって大変(たいへん)です。休(やす)む時間(じかん)がありません。疲(つか)れました。
I have overtime every day, so it's tough. I don't have time to rest. I'm exhausted.

大変(たいへん) has two main uses: "very" (adverb) and "difficult/tough" (na-adjective).

ADVERB USE (very):

  • 大変(たいへん)おいしい: very delicious
  • 大変(たいへん)お世話(せわ)になりました: thank you very much for your help
  • 大変(たいへん)申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません: I'm terribly sorry

NA-ADJECTIVE USE (difficult):

  • 大変(たいへん)な仕事(しごと): difficult work
  • 大変(たいへん)ですね: that's tough (expression of sympathy)
  • 大変(たいへん)な思(おも)いをする: to have a hard time

REGISTER:
As an adverb meaning "very," 大変(たいへん) is more formal/polite than とても. Common in formal speech and writing.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • とても: very (neutral)
  • 非常(ひじょう)に: extremely (formal)
  • すごく: very (casual)

Related Words

See also: とても
basic
Added 2026.1.8 0:20 · Revised 2026.2.12 8:55
00500/00594_taihen