大変

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 今日は大変な一日でした。▶ —
   Today was a tough day.
2. この料理は大変おいしいです。▶ —
   This dish is very tasty.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Taihen (大変) is a multi-class word — na-adjective + adverb + noun. Taihen na ichinichi (a tough day, na-adjective "great trouble") / taihen oishii (very tasty, adverb "very") / taihen da (it's a big deal, noun "calamity"). Kanji 大 (great) + 変 (mishap / change) = "a great mishap / extreme state," from which two senses branch: (1) negative "trouble," (2) intensifying adverb "very." Polysemous: context decides. Taihen na shigoto (tough work, negative) vs taihen na go-on (great kindness, positive intensifier). Greeting taihen osewa ni narimashita (I am very much indebted) is a business default with the adverbial sense. Korean "keun-il / mae-u / dae-dan-hi" parallels but Japanese taihen runs wider.

Quick check

1. Class and meaning of taihen in "taihen osewa ni narimashita"?

   • Adverb "very / greatly" (positive intensifier)
   • Na-adjective "tough" (negative)
   • Noun "calamity"
   • Verb inflection