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〜く・〜に (adverbs)

…ly (adjective as adverb)

い-adjective − い + く / な-adjective + に

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Adjectives turn into adverbs, words that describe how something is done:

  • い-adjectives: drop い, add く. 早い → 早く起きる, "get up early"; 大きい → 大きく書く, "write big".
  • な-adjectives: add に. 静か → 静かに話す, "speak quietly"; 上手 → 上手に歌う, "sing well".

Some are so common they're worth learning as words of their own: よく (from いい: well, often), 早く (early, quickly), 少し and たくさん, which are adverbs already.

The same く and に forms come back with なる ("become") in a later point: 寒くなる, 静かになる.

Examples

  • 明日あしたは早はやく起おきます。

    I'm getting up early tomorrow.

  • 図書館としょかんでは静しずかに話はなしてください。

    Please talk quietly in the library.

  • 名前なまえを大おおきく書かいてください。

    Please write your name large.

  • 妹いもうとはピアノを上手じょうずに弾ひきます。

    My little sister plays the piano well.

  • 野菜やさいを小ちいさく切きります。

    Cut the vegetables small.

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