Japanese word

よく

Pronunciation

Romajiyoku

Meaning

  • adverboften

Example

私はよく本を読みます。watashi wa yo ku hon o yo mi ma su

I often read books.

Illustration for よく (often)

More examples

よく本を読みます。yo ku hon o yo mi ma su

I often read books.

週末はよく公園で遊びます。shū matsu wa yo ku kō en de aso bi ma su

I often play in the park on weekends.

Core concept

Shows a high degree of frequency or quality, so an action can happen often or be done well depending on context.

Common phrases

  • よく見るyo ku mi ru

    see often

  • よく行くyo ku i ku

    go often

  • よく食べるyo ku ta be ru

    eat often

  • よく話すyo ku hana su

    talk often

  • よく使うyo ku tsuka u

    use often

Similar words

いつもitsumo: An adverb showing that something happens every time or nearly every time.
しょっちゅうshotchū: An informal adverb showing that something happens very frequently.

Definition in Japanese

同じ動作や出来事が何度も起こることを表すさま。ona ji dō sa ya de ki goto ga nan do mo o ko ru ko to o arawa su sa ma

Word origin

よく (yoku, "often; well") is the adverbial form of 良い (yoi, "good"), also written 良く (yoku, "well"); its sense "often" developed alongside "well".

Usage tips

  • The phrase よく読みます (yoku yomimasu) means "often read," but よくできました (yoku dekimashita) means "did well," so the surrounding words determine the sense.

Other meanings

  • welladverb

Word lists with this word