JLPT N5 Frequency Adverbs: Often → Never Scale

Japanese frequency follows a scale from 'yoku' (often) to 'zenzen ~masen' (never). Use with masu verbs from our40 verbs list.

Frequency Scale Chart

Positive Frequency (Often → Sometimes)

• いつも　itsumo = always
  いつも　でんしゃで　がっこうに　いきます。Itsumo densha de gakkou ni ikimasu.
• よく　yoku = often
  よく　コンビニで　かいものを　します。Yoku kombini de kaimono o shimasu.
• ときどき　tokidoki = sometimes
  ときどき　ともだちに　あいます。Tokidoki tomodachi ni aimasu.
  
• たまに　tamani = occasionally
  たまに　えいがを　みます。Tamani eiga o mimasu.
  

Negative Frequency (Rarely → Never)

• あまり～ません　amari ...masen = not very often
  あまり　テレビを　みません。Amari terebi o mimasen.
  
• ぜんぜん～ません　zenzen ...masen = never
  ぜんぜん　しんぶんを　よみません。Zenzen shimbun o yomimasen.
  

Real Q&A conversations

• A: よく　コーヒーを　のみますか。Yoku koohii o nomimasu ka. = Lit. Do you drink coffee often?
  B: はい、よく　のみます。Hai, yoku nomimasu. = Lit. Yes, I drink often.
• A: よく　ゲームを　しますか。Yoku geemu o shimasu ka. = Lit. Do you play game often?
  B: はい、ときどき　します。Hai, tokidoki shimasu. = Lit. Yes, I do sometimes.
• A: よく　えいがを　みますか。Yoku eiga o mimasu ka. = Lit. Do you watch movie often?
  B: はい、たまに　みます。Hai, tama ni mimasu. = Lit. Yes, I watch occasionally.
• A: よく　ほんを　よみますか。Yoku hon o yomimasu ka. = Lit. Do you read book often?
  B: いいえ、あまり　よみません。Iie, amari yomimasen. = Lit. No, I don't (read) very often.
• A: よく　おさけを　のみますか。Yoku osake o nomimasu ka. = Lit. Do you drink alcoholic dirink?
  B: いいえ、ぜんぜん　のみません。Iie, zenzen nomimasen. = Lit. No, I never drink.