かれ の かお は とても おそろしい。
Kare no kao wa totemo osoroshii.
His face is very scary.
This ain’t just a simple word; it’s a statement. It’s the word you use when you wanna put some stank on your words, when you’re talkin’ about somethin’ bein’ super-duper, like, off the charts. You feel me? It’s that emphasis you put on somethin’ that’s way more than just “a little bit.”
This right here is the easy money. とても (totemo) is a slick operator; it don’t need no crazy conjugation. It’s like a one-man crew, always ready to roll.
| Word Type | Conjugation Rule | Example |
| Adjectives | とても + Adjective | とても 強い totemo tsuyoi |
| Nouns | とても + Noun (with a helper word) | とても 強い人 totemo tsuyoi hito |
| Verbs | とても + Verb | とても 速く走る totemo hayakuhashiru |
とても (totemo) is an adverb, so it just slides in front of whatever adjective or verb you want to pump up. It’s a straight-up hustler, always doin’ its job without any drama. It don’t care if the word is an ‘i’-adjective, a ‘na’-adjective, or a verb. It just parks itself right in front and gets the job done. No messy endings, no weird rules.
Think of “とても” as the chrome rims on a Caddy. A Caddy is already a nice ride, right? But you put those shiny chrome rims on it, and it just takes it to a whole ‘nother level. It stands out, it turns heads, it makes a statement. “とても” does the same thing for your adjectives. It takes “good” and makes it “hella good.” It takes “bad” and makes it “terrible.” It’s the flavor, the swagger, the icing on the cake. It’s what makes your words pop.
Before we hit the examples, let’s get you hip to some real street lingo you might hear in the joint or on the block.
やつ (Yatsu)
English: Dude; guy; a person (often used when talking down on someone).
This ain’t for your friends. This is for the cat who ain’t on your good side. The dude who’s a straight-up rat, the guy who owes you money. When you use this word, you’re not showing respect. It’s a way of saying, “that guy over there,” with a little bit of heat.
くみ (Kumi)
English: Gang; crew; family.
This is your crew, your fam. The people you ride or die with. In the streets, your crew is everything. It’s who you roll with, who you can count on. It’s your organization. When you say “山口組” (Yamaguchi-gumi), you’re not just sayin’ a name, you’re talkin’ about the whole operation, the whole syndicate.
おやぶん (Oyabun)
English: Boss; head honcho; the main man.
The one callin’ the shots. The big boss. The one who’s got the power and the respect of the whole crew. He’s the father figure, the one you go to for orders. He’s the man who’s gonna make sure everyone gets paid, or that the problem gets handled. He’s the head of the family.
しゃてい (Shatei)
English: Underling; younger brother (in a gang).
This is the one below you in the crew. Your little brother, your right-hand man. Someone you look out for, but who also respects you as a senior. He’s loyal, and he does what he’s told.
カタギ (Katagi)
English: Civilian; straight-laced person; a non-gangster.
This is for the regular folks, the squares. The people who got a 9-to-5 job and don’t know nothin’ about the streets. They ain’t in the game, they’re just livin’ their life. When a gangster says “カタギ”, they’re talkin’ about someone who’s not involved in their lifestyle.
Check it, G. Here are 10 examples of とても (totemo) in action, straight from the concrete jungle.
あの やつ は とても うるさい から、しめ て こい。
Ano yatsu wa totemo urusai kara, shime te koi
That guy is so noisy, go rough him up.
おやぶん は とても こわい かお を している。
Oyabun wa totemo kowai kao o shite iru.
The boss has a very scary face.
しゃてい たち は とても つかれて いる よう だ。
Shatei-tachi wa totemo tsukarete iru you da.
It looks like the underlings are very tired.
この くみ は とても つよい。
Kono kumi wa totemo tsuyoi.
This gang is very strong.
あの カタギ は とても いい やつ だ。
Ano katagi wa totemo ii yatsu da.
That civilian is a very good dude.
かれ は とても はやく はしる から、にがす な。
Kare wa totemo hayaku hashiru kara, nigasu na.
He runs very fast, so don’t let him get away.
その けんじゅう は とても おもい。
Sono kenjuu wa totemo omoi.
That handgun is very heavy.
この けん は とても ふくざつ だ。
Kono ken wa totemo fukuzatsu da.
This matter is very complicated.
かのじょ の かお は とても きれい だ。
Kanojo no kao wa totemo kirei da.
Her face is very beautiful.
きょう の ばんめし は とても おいしかった。
Kyou no banmeshi wa totemo oishikatta.
Tonight’s dinner was very delicious.
Keep it real, and stay sharp out there. Holla at ya later.
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