とても貴重な
totemo kichō na
The English phrase "very precious" is translated into Japanese as とても貴重な (totemo kichō na).
とても貴重な is used to describe something that is of great value because it is rare or important.
Which one should you use?
すごく大事 is a casual way to say something is very precious or really important, and めちゃくちゃ大切 is an informal way to express that something is very precious or extremely important.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase とても貴重な ends with the particle na, which is required when using this adjective to modify a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
totemo kichō na
Did you know?
- If you call a person 貴重な (kichō na hito), it can sound like you are treating them as a museum specimen or a rare commodity rather than a human being.
- The informal modifier めちゃくちゃ in めちゃくちゃ大切 originally meant 'messy' or 'in ruins'. It evolved into an intensifier similar to saying something is 'insanely' precious.
- Japanese has a concept called もったいない which describes the feeling when something precious is wasted. There is no single English word for this mixture of regret and respect for an object's value.
Examples in context
- 彼女は私にとって大切すぎる存在です。She is a very precious presence to me.
- この写真は私にとってすごく大事な思い出です。This photo is a very precious memory to me.
- とても貴重な体験A very precious experience
- とても貴重な資料Very precious documents/materials
- これはとても貴重な本です。Kore wa totemo kichouna hon desu.This is a very precious book.
- とても貴重な体験ができました。Totemo kichouna taiken ga dekimashita.I was able to have a very precious experience.
- 彼はとても貴重な人材です。Kare wa totemo kichouna jinzai desu.He is a very precious asset to the company.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Youta are looking at an old family photo album.
- 陽葵 Himariこの写真はとても貴重なものだよ。Kono shashin wa totemo kichō na mono da yo.This photo is something very precious.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。大切に保管しよう。Hontō da ne. Taisetsu ni hokan shiyō.You're right. Let's keep it safe.
- 陽葵 Himariおじいちゃんが若かった頃の写真なの。Ojiichan ga wakakatta koro no shashin nano.It's a photo from when grandfather was young.
- 陽太 Yota家族の宝物だね。Kazoku no takaramono da ne.It's a family treasure.
