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

大変 taihen — one word that becomes a na-adjective, an adverb, and a noun all at once. 大変な一日 is a hard day, 大変おいしい is very tasty, 大変だ is "it's a big deal." The kanji 大 (great) + 変 (mishap) — from "a great mishap" fork ① hardship and ② the intensifying "very." The same word runs as a grain of the negative and a grain of emphasis — context decides the fork. "Taihen osewa ni narimashita" is the default of business greeting, standing as the adverb of emphasis.

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