How to say "especially" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 特にとくにadverbThe all-purpose choice for 'especially' and 'particularly': it both singles out one item among others and stresses degree, and is the safe default when unsure which word fits.
- adverbRarely the word you want for 'especially': it means taking the trouble to do something, going out of one's way on purpose; its 'especially' sense is really that deliberate, 'expressly' one.
- adverbMeans 'especially' or 'particularly' with an 'above all' flavor, picking out the case that stands out most; it overlaps heavily with 特に.
- 殊にことにadverbMeans 'especially' or 'particularly' with a nuance of 'unusually', stressing that something stands out as exceptional; like 特に and とりわけ, it highlights one case above others.
- 中でもなかでもexpression, adverbUse when singling out one thing or a few from within a group already under discussion: 'among them, especially...'; the 'among (other things)' sense is built in.
Choose 「特に」 as the default 'especially'; use 「中でも」 when picking one item out of a group; 「とりわけ」 and 「殊に」 add an 'above all' emphasis; 「わざわざ」 instead means taking the trouble.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 特にとくにparticularly
- わざわざexpressly
- とりわけespecially
- 殊にことにespecially
- 中でもなかでもamong (other things)
- 中にもなかにもamong (other things)
- なかんずくespecially
- 別してべっしてespecially
- 取り分けてとりわけてespecially
- それこそespecially
- 立ててたててespecially
- 突出してとっしゅつしてespecially
- わけてもespecially
- わけてabove all
- ひとしおstill more
- 取り立ててとりたててparticularly
- 立てだてparticularly
- いつにも増していつにもましてmore than usual
- そうそうso much
- ひときわconspicuously
- 改めてあらためてformally
- 特段とくだんespecially
- 格別かくべつparticularly
- ことさらespecially
See also
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