Your journey to expanding your Japanese vocabulary and learning how to express yourself more fluently is about to begin. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with various ways to say “more” in Japanese, both formally and informally, while offering tips, examples, and insights into regional variations when necessary. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
1. Formal Expressions
When speaking in formal situations or with individuals who require a higher level of respect, you can use the following phrases to convey “more” in Japanese:
1. もっと (Motto)
Meaning: More, even more
Example: もっと勉強していただけますか？ (Motto benkyou shite itadakemasu ka?)
Translation: Can you study more?
2. おまけに (Omake ni)
Meaning: Additionally, besides
Example: おまけに、この本には図表もたくさんあります。 (Omake ni, kono hon niwa zahyou mo takusan arimasu.)
Translation: Additionally, this book has many charts and tables.
3. さらに (Sara ni)
Meaning: Furthermore, moreover, additionally
Example: さらに大切なことは計画をよく練ることです。 (Sara ni taisetsu na koto wa keikaku o yoku neru koto desu.)
Translation: Furthermore, an important thing is to plan well.
2. Informal Expressions
When communicating with friends, family, or in informal settings, you have more flexibility in expressing “more” in Japanese. The following informal phrases are commonly used:
1. もっと (Motto)
Example: もっと食べたい！ (Motto tabetai!)
Translation: I want to eat more!
2. もっともっと (Motto motto)
Example: もっともっと早く会いたいよ！ (Motto motto hayaku aitai yo!)
Translation: I want to meet you much, much sooner!
3. もっと増やす (Motto fuyasu)
Meaning: To increase more, to add more
Example: もっと勉強時間を増やしたほうがいいよ。 (Motto benkyou jikan o fuyashita hou ga ii yo.)
Translation: You should increase your study time.
Additional Tips
1. Pay Attention to Context
When using the word “more” in Japanese, it’s essential to consider the context in which you are speaking. Depending on the specific situation, alternative expressions may be more appropriate. For instance:
- If you want to say “More than that” or “Furthermore,” you can use それ以上 (sore ijou) in formal situations.
- To convey “More and more” or “Increasingly,” ますます (masumasu) is commonly used.
2. Employ Sentence Structure
Another way to express “more” is by altering the structure of your sentence. For instance:
- Using the verb tense ～てみる (-te miru) after a verb, you can say “to try doing something more.” Example: もっと勉強してみます。 (Motto benkyou shite mimasu.) – I’ll try studying more.
- Utilizing the potential form of a verb, which is formed by attaching ～られる (-rareru) to the verb stem, you can express the possibility of doing “more” of an action. Example: もっと頑張れるよ！ (Motto ganbareru yo!) – You can do more!
Conclusion
By now, you should have a solid understanding of how to say “more” in Japanese using formal and informal expressions. Remember to adapt your choice of phrases based on the context and level of formality required. Practice incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations, and you’ll soon find yourself expressing your thoughts and desires more fluently in Japanese. Ganbatte kudasai!
