大変(たいへん)

たいへん
adverb
very, terribly
descriptive
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):

NA-ADJECTIVE USE (difficult):

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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

Related Words

Synonym: とても (neutral degree)
Compare: 非常(ひじょう)に (extremely)
Compare: すごく (very)
Compare: 大層(たいそう) (very, greatly, extremely)
Compare: しんどい (tiring)
Compare: 重大(じゅうだい)な (serious)
Compare: 誠(まこと)に (truly)
basic
Added 2026.1.8 0:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
00500/00594_taihen