殊更(ことさら)

ことさら
adverb
deliberately; on purpose; particularly; conspicuously
descriptive
1. deliberately; on purpose; unnecessarily
Doing something intentionally, often with the nuance that the action is excessive or unnecessary — going out of one's way to do it.
殊更(ことさら)難(むずか)しい言葉(ことば)を使(つか)う。
He deliberately uses difficult words.
殊更(ことさら)大(おお)げさに言(い)う必要(ひつよう)はない。
There is no need to deliberately exaggerate.
彼女(かのじょ)は殊更(ことさら)明(あか)るく振(ふ)る舞(ま)っていたが、内心(ないしん)は傷(きず)ついていた。
She was deliberately acting cheerful, but was hurting on the inside.
2. particularly; especially; conspicuously
Emphasizing that something stands out to a notable degree, more than one might expect.
その作品(さくひん)は殊更(ことさら)目(め)を引(ひ)くデザインだった。
That piece had a particularly eye-catching design.
今日(きょう)は殊更(ことさら)寒(さむ)く感(かん)じる。
Today feels especially cold.
殊更(ことさら)問題(もんだい)にするようなことではないが、一応(いちおう)確認(かくにん)しておきたい。
It is not particularly something to make an issue of, but I would like to confirm it nonetheless.

Sense distinction

  • Sense 1 (deliberate): emphasizes that an action is intentional, often unnecessarily or excessively so — similar to わざと but more literary.
  • Sense 2 (particularly): emphasizes that something stands out conspicuously — close to 特に or 格別.

Similar words

  • わざと: deliberately — more colloquial; neutral or negative connotation
  • わざわざ: going out of one's way — emphasizes extra effort made
  • あえて: deliberately; daringly — implies boldness or going against the grain
  • 特に: particularly — neutral; the everyday alternative for sense 2

Related Words

Compare: わざと (deliberately)
Compare: わざわざ (going out of one's way)
Compare: 敢(あ)えて (deliberately)
Compare: 特(とく)に (particularly)
general
Added 2026.6.12 17:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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