Japanese verbs on their own are often quite plain — 話す (speak), 歩く (walk), 食べる (eat). But add a manner adverb, and suddenly the sentence comes alive: not just "speak," but "speak clearly"; not just "walk," but "stroll leisurely." This article groups the most useful manner adverbs by theme so you can start using them right away.
Speed and Pace
ゆっくり = Slowly, Unhurried
ゆっくり is probably one of the first manner adverbs you'll learn. It describes a slow, relaxed pace.
ゆっくり食べてください。 → Please eat slowly.
ゆっくり話してもらえますか。 → Could you speak more slowly? (a lifesaver when studying Japanese)
急いで（いそいで）= In a Hurry
急いで is the te-form of 急ぐ (to hurry), used adverbially to mean "hastily, in a rush."
急いで家を出ました。 → I rushed out of the house.
さっさと = Quickly, Get On With It
さっさと adds a layer of impatience or decisiveness compared to 急いで:
さっさと宿題をやりなさい。 → Hurry up and do your homework. (parent nagging)
さっさと帰ろう。 → Let's get out of here already.
のんびり = Leisurely, At Ease
のんびり is the poster child for slow living:
休みの日はのんびり過ごしたい。 → I want to spend my days off at a leisurely pace.
のんびりした性格。 → An easygoing personality.
てきぱき = Briskly, Efficiently
てきぱき describes someone working in a crisp, efficient manner:
彼女はてきぱきと仕事をこなす。 → She handles work briskly and efficiently.
Speed Comparison Chart
| Adverb | Speed | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| のんびり | very slow | leisurely, relaxed |
| ゆっくり | slow | unhurried |
| てきぱき | fast | efficient, crisp |
| 急いで | fast | in a time crunch |
| さっさと | fast | impatient, pushy |
Clarity and Attitude
はっきり = Clearly, Definitively
はっきり covers speaking clearly, seeing clearly, and stating things unambiguously:
はっきり言ってください。 → Please say it clearly.
はっきり見えない。 → I can't see it clearly.
はっきり断った。 → I refused definitively.
きちんと / ちゃんと = Properly, Neatly
These two mean nearly the same thing — "doing things the right way." きちんと is slightly more formal; ちゃんと is more casual.
きちんと並んでください。 → Please line up properly.
ちゃんと聞いてる？ → Are you listening properly?
| きちんと | ちゃんと | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | somewhat formal | casual |
| Typical context | writing, workplace | friends, family |
| Example | きちんと報告する | ちゃんとやってね |
しっかり = Firmly, Thoroughly
しっかり emphasizes doing something solidly, without cutting corners:
しっかり勉強してください。 → Study hard. (don't slack off)
手すりをしっかり持って。 → Hold on to the handrail firmly.
しっかりした人。 → A dependable person.
ぼんやり = Vaguely, Absentmindedly
ぼんやり is the opposite of はっきり:
ぼんやりテレビを見ていた。 → I was watching TV absentmindedly.
遠くの山がぼんやり見える。 → The distant mountains are faintly visible.
うっかり = Carelessly, By Accident
うっかり忘れてしまった。 → I carelessly forgot.
うっかりミスをした。 → I made a careless mistake.
Effort and Attitude
一生懸命（いっしょうけんめい）= Wholeheartedly, With All One's Might
一生懸命練習しました。 → I practiced with all my might.
一生懸命働いている。 → I'm working as hard as I can.
頑張って（がんばって）= Doing One's Best
頑張って works both as an adverbial expression ("striving hard") and as a standalone encouragement ("good luck!"):
頑張って走った。 → I ran as hard as I could.
頑張ってください！ → Good luck! / Do your best!
真剣に（しんけんに）= Seriously, Earnestly
真剣に考えてください。 → Please think about it seriously.
真剣な表情。 → A serious expression.
いい加減に（いいかげんに）= Half-Heartedly, Sloppily
Despite いい加減 literally meaning "good degree," it's mostly used to criticize carelessness:
いい加減にしなさい！ → Cut it out! / Enough already!
いい加減な仕事。 → Sloppy work.
適当に（てきとうに）= Casually, Roughly
適当 has two meanings: "appropriate" (positive) and "slapdash" (negative). In casual speech, the negative meaning dominates:
適当にやっておいて。 → Just wing it. / Do it roughly.
適当なことを言うな。 → Don't say irresponsible things.
Manner of Action
こっそり = Secretly, Sneakily
こっそりお菓子を食べた。 → I snuck some sweets.
こっそり部屋を出た。 → I slipped out of the room quietly.
堂々と（どうどうと）= Confidently, With Dignity
堂々と発表した。 → I presented with confidence.
堂々と歩く。 → To walk with confidence.
静かに（しずかに）= Quietly
静かにしてください。 → Please be quiet.
静かにドアを閉めた。 → I closed the door quietly.
思い切って（おもいきって）= Boldly, Taking the Plunge
思い切って告白した。 → I took the plunge and confessed my feelings.
思い切って転職した。 → I made the bold decision to change jobs.
わざと = On Purpose, Deliberately
わざとやったでしょう？ → You did that on purpose, didn't you?
わざと負けた。 → I lost on purpose.
偶然（ぐうぜん）= By Chance, Coincidentally
偶然、昔の友達に会った。 → I ran into an old friend by chance.
偶然同じ電車に乗っていた。 → We happened to be on the same train.
Grammar Note: と and に + Verb
Many manner adverbs connect to verbs with と or に:
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| ～と + verb | はっきりと言う, しっかりと握る, 堂々と歩く |
| ～に + verb | 静かに話す, 真剣に考える, 適当にやる |
と is common with mimetic/onomatopoeic-style adverbs, while に is common with adverbs derived from na-adjectives.
Some adverbs work with or without と:
- ゆっくり話す = ゆっくりと話す (speak slowly)
- はっきり言う = はっきりと言う (say clearly)
Adding と gives a slightly more deliberate, literary tone.
Easily Confused Pairs
| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| きちんと vs ちゃんと | Same meaning; きちんと is more formal, ちゃんと is more casual |
| ゆっくり vs のんびり | ゆっくり focuses on slow speed; のんびり focuses on relaxed mood |
| うっかり vs わざと | うっかり = unintentional, careless; わざと = intentional, deliberate |
| さっさと vs てきぱき | さっさと has an impatient/nagging tone; てきぱき is a compliment for efficiency |
Summary
- Speed series: のんびり (leisurely) → ゆっくり (slow) → てきぱき (brisk) → 急いで (hurried) → さっさと (impatient)
- Clarity series: はっきり (clear) ↔ ぼんやり (vague), しっかり (solid) ↔ うっかり (careless)
- Attitude series: 一生懸命 / 真剣に (earnest) ↔ いい加減に / 適当に (sloppy)
- Action series: こっそり (sneaky) ↔ 堂々と (confident), わざと (deliberate) ↔ 偶然 (by chance)
- きちんと and ちゃんと mean the same thing but differ in formality
- Adding と after an adverb gives a slightly more formal/literary feel
Practice Quiz
Q1. You want to ask someone to speak more slowly. How do you say it in Japanese?
Show Answer
ゆっくり話してください。
"Slowly" is ゆっくり, and "please speak" is 話してください.
Q2. What's the difference between 「うっかり財布を忘れた」 and 「わざと財布を忘れた」?
Show Answer
- うっかり財布を忘れた。 → I carelessly forgot my wallet. (unintentional)
- わざと財布を忘れた。 → I deliberately forgot my wallet. (intentional — e.g., to avoid paying)
うっかり = careless, unintentional; わざと = on purpose, deliberate.
Q3. You want to compliment a coworker for working efficiently. Should you use さっさと or てきぱき?
Show Answer
Use てきぱき. It's a compliment meaning someone works crisply and efficiently:
- 〇 彼女はてきぱきと仕事をする。 (She works efficiently. — compliment)
さっさと carries an impatient or nagging tone, so using it as a compliment would come across as rude:
- ✕ さっさと仕事をする。 (Get on with it already. — pushy tone)