1.
considerably, quite, very
Indicates a high degree, often more than expected.
随分寒くなりましたね。
It's gotten quite cold, hasn't it?
Noting a change
随分上手になりましたね。
You've improved considerably!
Compliment
随分久しぶりですね。
It's been quite a while, hasn't it?
Greeting after long absence
随分変わったね。
You've changed quite a bit!
随分遅くなった。
It's gotten quite late.
随分歩いたね。
We walked quite a lot, didn't we?
2.
extremely, terribly (with emotion)
Can express surprise or strong feeling about the degree of something.
随分待ちました。
I waited for quite a long time.
Expressing slight complaint
それは随分高いですね。
That's awfully expensive.
Expressing surprise
随分ひどいことを言うね。
That's a terribly mean thing to say.
随分助かった。
That was a big help.
随分 is an adverb meaning 'considerably' or 'quite,' often implying more than expected.
Position: Usually appears before adjectives or verbs.
Modifies: Both verbs and adjectives (i-adjectives and na-adjectives)
[Register: Neutral]
Nuance: Often carries a nuance of surprise, emotional reaction, or implicit comparison to expectations.
Similar adverbs:
- 随分 vs. とても: とても is neutral; 随分 often implies surprise or exceeding expectations.
- 随分 vs. かなり: かなり is more objective ('fairly/considerably'); 随分 is more subjective with emotional coloring.
- 随分 vs. すごく: すごく is more casual and emphatic; 随分 is more measured.
Orthography: Often written in hiragana as ずいぶん.