Adverbs from Adjectives
形容詞・形容動詞の連用形の副詞的用法
In this lesson, we will investigate how the 連用形 of adjectives (形容詞) and adjectival nouns (形容動詞) may be used as adverbs which modify the predicate of the clause which they modify.
Constructing the 連用形
As we have learned, adjectives possess two 連用形: the /kari-/ form and the /ku-/ form. While the former allows adjectives take on auxiliaries, the latter is also dubbed the “adverbial form” because of its ability to render adjectives as adverbs. Similarly, adjectival nouns also have two 連用形: the /de-/ form, which we recognize also their て form and is also used with auxiliaries, and the /ni-/form, which is also dubbed the “adverbial form.”
| 形容詞 | 終止形 | 連用形≒ 副詞形 | 形容動詞 | 終止形 | 連体形≒ 副詞形 |
| Strong | 強い | 強く | Quiet | 静かだ | 静かに |
| Weak | 弱い | 弱く | Easy | 簡単だ | 簡単に |
| Slow | 遅い | 遅く | Serious | 真面目だ | 真面目に |
| Small | 小さい | 小さく | Pretty | 綺麗だ | 綺麗に |
Semantically, there are two broad categories in which these adjective/adjectival noun-derived adverbs may fall under.
①Adverb of Result (結果の副詞)
②Adverb of Manner (様態の副詞)
Of these categories, adverbs of Type ② typically correspond to adverbs made in English with the suffix “-ly,” as both groups are indicative of the way in which something is done and/or occurs. Note, however, that depending on English’s own conventions, not all translations of these adverbs will necessarily contain “-ly” or even contain an adverb (Ex. 6).
1. 簡単に説明しましょう。
Allow me to explain simply.
2. 楽しく休日を過ごす。
To spend one’s holiday merrily.
3. わたしは毎日自分の部屋で一人静かに勉強します。
I study in my own room quietly every day.
4. あの向こうの電灯が赤く輝いた。
That light yonder shined red.
5. 冬には太陽は早く沈む。
The sun sets early in the winter.
6. 深く息を吸う。
To take a deep breath.
As for adverbs of Type ①, while English does ultimately express them as attributive complements to the predicate, there is no one, consistent pattern in doing so which exists in Japanese. In the following sentences, the adverbial modifier in both languages is encased in [].
7. 何かを[小さく]切る。
To cut something [into small pieces].
8. インディゴで洗面台が[青く]染まった。
The washbasin was dyed blue with indigo.
9. 姉は[優しく]なりました。
My older sister became [nice].
10. 手を[綺麗に]洗いました。
I washed my hands [clean].
連用形＋なる・する
Two major parallel applications of Type ② adjective/adjectival noun-derived adverbs are when they are used with the verbs なる and する.
連用形＋なる indicates that the subject of the sentence is becoming said state described by the adjective/adjectival noun, while 連用形＋する indicates that the agent (doer) of the sentence is turning an object into said state described by the adjective/adjectival noun.
11. もう少し静かにしてください。
Literally: Please have (yourself) be a little more quiet.
Please be more quiet.
12. ボリュームを大きくして楽しむ。
To crank up the volume and have fun.
13. 顔が赤くなった。
(My) face has gotten red.
14. コーヒーを甘くしました。
I made the coffee sweet.
15. うちのワンちゃんを大切にしています。
Literally: I am having my doggy be precious (to me).
I cherish my doggy.
16. 時間を無駄にした。
Literally: I made the time a waste.
I wasted time.
Alternative に-Less 連用形
Some 形容動詞 may be used adverbially with their stems, as opposed to utilizing their 連用形, while others have both adverbial renditions. In the latter scenario, there will always be a nuance difference.
■確か vs 確かに
確か and 確かに may both be used adverbially to mean “certainly/surely.” The difference between the two is very subtle, with 確か indicating less certainty than 確かに. This indicates that the use of に highlights the manner (degree) to which the speaker believes the predicate to be true.
17. 世界の人口は、確か70億（人）ぐらいだ(った)と思います。
The population of the world, if I’m not mistaken is around 7 billion people.
18. 確かにその木が倒れるでしょう。
The tree will certainly fall.
19a. 確か（か）? (Casual and blunt)
19b. 確かですか。
Is that for certain?
■結構
With definitions ranging from “quite/rather” to “fairly well,” 結構 indicates a state that, while not perfect or 100% indicative of whatever state is being described, is good enough.
20. 今日はけっこう寒いです。
Today is quite cold.
Adverbs Made w/ に
Not all adverbs ending in に derive from adjectives or adjectival nouns. In these instances, complicated etymologies have rendered functions of the case particle に to exhibit the adverbial trait of the resulting adverb. Two common examples of this are the adverbs すでに and 直ちに1.
21. 現状は直ちに問題はありません。
There are no problems present right now.
22. レンタカーで直ちに空港を出発しました。
(I/we) immediately left the airport in a rental car.
23. 戦争はすでに終わっている。
The war has already ended.
少し vs 少しく
Though 少し (a little) is naturally used as an adverb, its root /suko/ is related to the /suku/ found in the adjectival form 少ない (for there to be little of). Yet, oddly enough, there exists the form 少しく, which came about from mistaking it as an adjective. In Modern Japanese, this alternative adverbial form has the specific nuance of “somewhat,” and it is only ever seldom seen in the written language.
24. 少しく思うところを述べる。(書き言葉)
To state somewhat on what one is thinking.
- In both instances, the adverbial sense of に is believed to derive from the “directional” function of the case particle に. ↩︎