とてもよかった
totemo yokatta
In Japanese, "it was very good" is expressed as とてもよかった (totemo yokatta).
This phrase is used to express that a past experience or an object was of high quality or satisfying.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of totemo (very) and yokatta (the past tense of ii/yoi, meaning good).
Which one should you use?
Use the past tense とてもよかった to describe a completed experience, whereas the present tense totemo ii is used to describe a current state or a general quality.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding desu to the end of totemo yokatta to create とてもよかったです makes the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to superiors or strangers.
How do you pronounce it?
totemo yokatta
Did you know?
- Using yokatta to describe a person's character in the past tense can sometimes imply that the person is no longer that way or has passed away.
- While 'yokatta' means 'it was good', saying よかった alone can also mean 'I am relieved' or 'Thank goodness'.
- In casual Japanese, you might hear someone say めっちゃよかった (meccha yokatta) instead of using とても (totemo).
Examples in context
- コンサートは短いものだったが、とてもよかった。The concert was short. However, it was very good.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe a completed event like a concert using とてもよかった.Tatoeba #1142557 by bunbuku, translation #1327535 by CK
- このレストランの料理はとても良かったです。The food at this restaurant was very good.
- あの映画、とても良かった。That movie was very good.
- USJのアトラクション、めちゃくちゃ良かったですよ。The attractions at Universal Studios Japan were extremely good, you know.
- 昨日の映画はとてもよかった。Kinou no eiga wa totemo yokatta.Yesterday's movie was very good.
- 旅行はとてもよかったですよ。Ryokou wa totemo yokatta desu yo.The trip was very good.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a restaurant they visited recently.
- 結衣 Yuiあのレストラン、どうだった？Ano resutoran, dou datta?How was that restaurant?
- 陽太 Yota料理がとてもよかったよ。Ryouri ga totemo yokatta yo.The food was very good.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはよかったね！Sore wa yokatta ne!That's good to hear!
- 陽太 Yotaまた行きたいな。Mata ikitai na.I want to go again.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
