How to say "various" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe all-purpose choice for the plain sense of 'various': many different kinds of one thing, such as various reasons or various shops. When unsure which of these words to pick, this is the safe one.
- pre-noun adjectivalA colloquial variant of いろいろ with the same meaning; use it in relaxed conversation, and reach for いろいろ when writing or when a more careful tone is needed.
- 様々さまざまna-adjective, nounCovers 'various' with the added nuance of 'varied' and 'diverse': it foregrounds how the items differ from one another, as when a discussion draws a wide range of opinions.
- 多様たようna-adjective, nounLeans hardest on the 'diverse' side of 'various': use it when the point is that a group contains many different kinds, as in talk of diverse cultures or a diverse society.
- 諸しょprefixSeldom the word you want for the ordinary sense of 'various': it is really a component of set expressions meaning 'various, many, or several,' rather than an adjective you can drop into a sentence.
For the plain 'many different kinds' sense use 「いろいろ」, its colloquial partner 「いろんな」 in casual speech, 様々 when emphasizing how things differ, 多様 for the 'diverse' sense, and 諸 only in set expressions.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- いろいろvarious
- いろんなvarious
- 様々さまざまvarious
- 多様たようdiverse
- 諸しょvarious
- まちまちvarious
- 数々かずかずmany
- 多岐たきdiverse
- 種々しゅじゅvarious
- 諸般しょはんvarious
- くさぐさvarious
- 区々くくvarious
- 凡百ぼんぴゃくvarious
- とりどりvarious
- てんでバラバラvarious
- 各般かくはんall
- 種々雑多しゅじゅざったall sorts of
- 細細したこまごましたsundry
- 細細としたこまごまとしたsundry
- 多彩たさいvarious
- 千草ちぐさvarious
- もろmany
- とかくall sorts of (negative things)
See also
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