よく

よく

adverb

often, well

1. often, frequently

Many times; regularly.

よく本(ほん)を読(よ)みます。

I often read books.

よくここに来(き)ますか？

Do you come here often?

子供(こども)の時(とき)、よく外(そと)で遊(あそ)びました。

When I was a child, I often played outside.

母(はは)はよく「早(はや)く寝(ね)なさい」と言(い)います。

My mother often says, "Go to bed early."

友達(ともだち)とよく電話(でんわ)で話(はな)すので、いつも電話代(でんわだい)が高(たか)くなってしまいます。

I often talk to my friends on the phone, so my phone bill always ends up being high.

2. well

In a good manner; thoroughly.

よくわかりました。

I understood well.

よく来(き)ましたね！

I'm glad you came!

Welcome expression

よく見(み)て、まねしてください。

Watch carefully, and copy what I do.

よくできました！次(つぎ)も頑張(がんば)ってください。

Well done! Keep up the good work.

説明(せつめい)をよく読(よ)んでから、使(つか)い方(かた)がわからない時(とき)は先生(せんせい)に聞(き)いてください。

After reading the instructions carefully, if you still don't understand how to use it, please ask the teacher.

よく has two main meanings: "often" and "well" (adverb of いい).

Common expressions

よく読(よ)む: to read often; to read carefully
よく分(わ)かる: to understand well
よくできました: Well done!
よく来(き)ましたね: Welcome! (I'm glad you came)

RELATED WORDS (frequency scale):

いつも: always
よく: often
時々(ときどき): sometimes
たまに: occasionally
あまり〜ない: not often
全然(ぜんぜん)〜ない: never, not at all

Watch out

With a negative, よく usually means "well," not "often": よく分(わ)からない means "I don't really understand." For "not often," use あまり〜ない.
よく〜ね can also mean "how could you": よくそんなことが言(い)えるね ("How can you say such a thing?").

Related Words

Related: 時々(ときどき) (sometimes)

Related: いつも (always)

Compare: たびたび (often, frequently, repeatedly)

Compare: ちょくちょく (often)

Compare: 頻繁(ひんぱん) (frequent)

Related: たまに (occasionally)

Compare: しょっちゅう (constantly)

basic

Added 2026.1.8 0:06 · Revised 2026.10.14 9:41

00500/00601_yoku