文字通り
mojidōri[mo̞ʑido̞ːɾʲi]
The English word 'literally' can be expressed in Japanese using 文字通り (mojidōri). Wiktionary also lists 額面通り (gakumendōri).
Meaning: in a literal manner (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 文字通り | mojidōri | [mo̞ʑido̞ːɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 額面通り | gakumendōri |
文字通り is used to convey that something is being understood or expressed in a literal manner.
What does it mean word for word?
It translates literally to 'according to the characters'.
Which one should you use?
While 文字通り refers to the literal meaning of words or text, 額面通り is used specifically to mean 'literally as stated' or 'at face value', often in the context of numbers, amounts or official statements.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use 文字通り as an adverb to modify a verb, such as 'to take literally', the particle に is often added to form 文字通りに.
How do you pronounce it?
mojidōri
Did you know?
- While 文字通り refers to the written 'characters', it is used even when the words were spoken aloud and never written down.
- The word 額面 in 額面通り uses the character 額, which can also mean 'forehead'. This creates a visual connection to the 'front' or 'face' of a document, similar to the English 'face value'.
- In Japanese, if you want to say someone is 'too literal' as a personality trait, you might describe them as 真面目 'earnest' or 融通が利かない 'inflexible' rather than using 文字通り.
Examples in context
- お前は何でもかんでも文字通りに受け取り過ぎなんだよ。You take everything too literally.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 文字通り when describing someone taking things too literally.Tatoeba #9682017 by bunbuku, translation #740589 by Dejo
- 刑事は文字通り何千人もの人に事件についての聞き込みを行った。The detective questioned literally thousands of people about the incident.This sentence shows how to use 文字通り to emphasize a large number of people.Tatoeba #2758584 by bunbuku, translation #237821 by CK
- 彼の言葉は文字どおり受け取られるべきだ。His words should be taken literally.
- 彼は文字通り泣き崩れた。Kare wa mojidoori nakikuzureta.He literally broke down crying.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are discussing a very difficult test they just took.
- 蓮 Renあのテスト、文字通り地獄だったよ。Ano tesuto, mojidōri jigoku datta yo.That test was literally hell.
- 美咲 Misaki本当にね。全然時間が足りなかったし。Hontō ni ne. Zenzen jikan ga tarinakatta shi.I know. There wasn't nearly enough time.
- 蓮 Ren半分も答えられなかったよ。Hanbun mo kotaerarenakatta yo.I couldn't even answer half of it.
- 美咲 Misaki私も。もう諦めるしかないね。Watashi mo. Mō akirameru shika nai ne.Me too. I guess we just have to give up.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “literally” translations and entries 文字通り, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
