When you’re having a conversation in Japanese, it’s super helpful to be able to say things like “I always eat sushi,” “I sometimes watch anime,” or “I have been to Tokyo before.” To do that, you need to know some key phrases that describe how often something happens.

Let’s go over the most common expressions for frequency in Japanese!

Common Frequency Words

Here are some basic adverbs of frequency you’ll often hear in everyday Japanese:

• いつも – Always
  いつもコーヒーを飲のみます。
  (I always drink coffee.)
• よく – Often
  よく音楽おんがくを聞ききます。
  (I often listen to music.)
• ときどき – Sometimes
  ときどき友ともだちと映画えいがを見みます。
  (Sometimes I watch movies with friends.)
• たまに – Occasionally
  たまに外そとで食たべます。
  (I occasionally eat out.)
• あまり〜ない – Not very often
  あまりテレビを見みません。
  (I don’t watch TV very often.)
• ぜんぜん〜ない – Never
  お酒さけはぜんぜん飲のみません。
  (I never drink alcohol.)

Note: あまり and ぜんぜん are used with negative verb forms.

〜ことがある — “Have done something before”

Another super useful phrase is 〜ことがある, which means “have done something before.” It’s used to talk about past experiences.

How to use:

Verb (past plain form) + ことがある

Example:
日本にほんに行いったことがあります。
(I have been to Japan before.)

納豆なっとうを食たべたことがありますか？
(Have you ever eaten natto?)

This structure is great for sharing life experiences or asking others about theirs.

Practice Time!

Try translating these into Japanese:

1. I always wake up at 6 a.m.
2. I sometimes eat ramen.
3. I have ridden a bullet train (shinkansen) before.
4. I don’t often cook at home.
5. I never play video games.

Quick Tips

• Want to make your Japanese sound more natural? Try combining frequency words with time expressions:
  　毎日まいにちよく運動うんどうします。 (I often exercise every day.)
• Don’t forget to match the verb tense and form depending on the meaning.
  　For example, 〜ことがある = past experience, so the verb should be in past form.

With these phrases, you’ll be able to talk about your habits and experiences like a native! Try using them in your next conversation or writing practice.

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