ごく

ごく
adverb
very; extremely; quite
1. very, extremely, quite
An intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely,' used to emphasize the degree of something. Often paired with ordinary or common states.
ごく普通(ふつう)の家庭(かてい)だ。
It's a perfectly ordinary household.
ごく少数(しょうすう)の人(ひと)しか知(し)らない。
Only very few people know about it.
ごく最近(さいきん)になってやっとその事実(じじつ)が明(あき)らかになった。
Only very recently did that fact come to light.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ごく普通(ふつう): perfectly ordinary, quite normal
  • ごく少数(しょうすう): very few
  • ごく一部(いちぶ): a very small portion
  • ごく最近(さいきん): very recently
  • ごく稀(まれ)に: extremely rarely
  • ごく自然(しぜん)に: very naturally
  • ごく簡単(かんたん)に: very simply

NUANCE: ごく is more literary/formal than とても or すごく. It often pairs with words describing normality (ごく普通(ふつう)) or small quantities (ごく少数(しょうすう)), giving a sense of 'nothing more than' or 'merely.' Less commonly used with emotional or subjective adjectives.

NOTE: Not to be confused with 極(ごく) (extreme, ultimate) or 語句(ごく) (words and phrases), which are homophones written with kanji.

general
Added 2026.2.6 9:35
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