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Fast, slow, properly, well

Stage 3Stance, attitude & mannerChunk 28 of 32 · items 349–352 of 484

Everyday manner adverbs that go straight before a verb to say how it's done: speed, care, and whether it works.

hayaku

drama rank #144

quickly; early; hurry up

早く はやく

The adverb form of hayai: before any verb it means fast or early (hayaku kaeru, hayaku okiru), and 'hayaku!' on its own means hurry up.

casual

hayaku shite ne.

Be quick, okay?

早くしてね。

polite

hayaku shite kudasai ne.

Please be quick.

早くしてくださいね。

Spoken hayaku covers both 早く (early) and 速く (fast); the sound is the same. To a clerk or coworker, hayaku shite kudasai sounds impatient, so soften it: sumimasen, chotto isoide iru n desu ga... (sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry).

Learn alongside: yukkuriLearn first: hayai

yukkuri

drama rank #515

slowly; take your time

ゆっくり

A manner adverb for slow, unhurried action: yukkuri de ii (yo) means no rush, take your time, and mou sukoshi yukkuri asks someone to slow down. yukkuri shite ne / yukkuri shitette ne is different: a host's 'relax, make yourself at home'.

casual

yukkuri de ii yo.

No rush, take your time.

ゆっくりでいいよ。

polite

yukkuri de ii desu yo.

No rush, take your time.

ゆっくりでいいですよ。

Survival line: mou sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai (please speak a little more slowly), or simply yukkuri onegaishimasu. goyukkuri douzo (enjoy, take your time) is the shop and host set phrase.

Learn alongside: hayaku

chanto

drama rank #169

properly; as one should

ちゃんと

Says something is done the right, responsible way (chanto tabete, chanto kiite), and 'chanto shita hito' is a proper, reliable person.

casual

chanto tabete ne.

Make sure you eat properly.

ちゃんと食べてね。

polite

chanto tabete kudasai ne.

Please make sure you eat properly.

ちゃんと食べてくださいね。

kichinto is a stiffer synonym. chanto is fine in polite speech too.

umaku

drama rank #761*

well; smoothly

うまく

Says something works out or is done skilfully. It is used mostly in 'umaku iku' (go well) and in negatives that describe trouble (umaku ienai = can't put it well).

casual

shiken, umaku itta?

Did the exam go well?

試験、うまくいった?

polite

shiken, umaku ikimashita ka?

Did the exam go well?

試験、うまくいきましたか?

Learner lifeline: umaku ienai kedo... (I can't put it well, but...).

Learn first: iku