How to say "absolutely" in Japanese

• 絶対ぜったいJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbThe all-purpose emphatic 'absolutely, definitely, unconditionally': it strengthens promises, refusals and strong assertions, can stand alone as an emphatic answer, and — unlike the purely adverbial 絶対に — also serves as a noun ('the absolute').
  アーア、絶対ぜったいうまくいくと思おもったのになあ。↗

  Oh man! I was sure this was going to work out.
• 一向いっこうCommon
  adverbGlossed 'completely, absolutely, totally,' but seldom the word you want for emphatic 'absolutely': it belongs with negative expressions, where it means 'not at all,' and is normally met in the form 一向に.
• 断じてだんじてCommon
  adverbAn emphatic adverb used above all to deny or reject something outright — 'absolutely not,' 'by no means.' It is the word for flat, resolute negation, not for general affirmative emphasis.
  彼かれは断だんじて紳士しんしなどではない。↗

  He is anything but a gentleman.
• 絶対にぜったいにCommon
  adverbThe adverb form of 絶対, with the same senses 'absolutely, definitely, unconditionally.' It sits directly before the verb or adjective it strengthens and suits firm promises and outright refusals well.
  この事ことは絶対ぜったいに口外こうがいしません。↗

  I'll never tell this to anyone.
• 一向にいっこうにCommon
  adverbThe usual form of 一向: it pairs with negative expressions and means 'not at all' or 'not in the least.' It is not the affirmative emphatic 'absolutely' — for that, use 絶対 or 絶対に.

For plain emphatic 'absolutely/definitely' choose 絶対 or its adverb form 「絶対に」; 「断じて」 serves flat emphatic denial ('absolutely not'); 一向 and 「一向に」 are not affirmative emphatics — they accompany negatives to mean 'not at all.'

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 絶対ぜったいabsolutely
• 一向いっこうcompletely
• 断じてだんじてabsolutely
• 絶対にぜったいにabsolutely
• 一向にいっこうにcompletely
• まるっきりcompletely
• 是非ともぜひともby all means
• とうてい(cannot) possibly
• 断然だんぜんfirmly
• ただただabsolutely
• まるきりcompletely
• すべからくabsolutely (ought to)
• とんとcompletely
• 万ばんcompletely
• 断々固だんだんこfirm
• 神掛けてかみかけてswear by god
• 努努ゆめゆめcertainly
• ぜってーdefinitely
• まるっきしcompletely
• 全くと言っていいほどまったくといっていいほど(not) at all
• とてもじゃない(not) at all
• とてもとても(not) at all
• 誠まことindeed
• 一切いっさいabsolutely (not)
• 超ちょうextremely
• 根っからねっからabsolutely (not)
• いかにもabsolutely
• 何様なにさまabsolutely
• 根からねからabsolutely (not)
• さればthat's right
• 俄然がぜんvery
• いかさまsurely
• ぱねぇa lot