Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expressly; specially; purposely; going out of one’s way to do something.
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that an action was performed with extra effort, a specific intention, or despite some inconvenience or necessity.
📋 Grammar Structure
わざわざ + Verb (Dictionary Form, ます Form, た Form, て Form, etc.)
Not applicable (Adverb)
Not applicable (Adverb)
わざわざ + Negative Verb Form (e.g., わざわざ行かない)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used to politely thank someone for their extra effort or apologize for causing them inconvenience.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in daily conversation, often with a slight nuance of “thank you for the trouble” or “I shouldn’t have put you to this trouble.”
Written Language
Found in polite emails, letters, and narratives to highlight deliberate actions.
Spoken Language
Very common in daily life, especially as a set phrase (e.g., わざわざありがとうございます).
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Gratitude for Special Effort
Used to acknowledge and thank someone for the extra effort or inconvenience they incurred for the speaker.
Example: わざわざ来てくれてありがとう。
Indicating an Unnecessary or Troublesome Effort
Used often with ‘yokatta noni’ (could have not) to express that the action was unnecessary or too much trouble.
Example: わざわざお電話いただかなくてもよかったのに。
Highlighting a Deliberate and Specific Action
Emphasizes that the action was performed with a specific, intentional purpose, often requiring more effort than a typical action.
Example: 彼女は私のためにお弁当をわざわざ作った。
Frequency
High
Difficulty
Intermediate (N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
忙しいのに、わざわざお見舞いに来てくれてありがとう。
Furigana: いそがしいのに、わざわざおみまいにきてくれてありがとう。
Romaji: Isogashii noni, wazawaza omimai ni kite kurete arigatou.
English: Thank you for going out of your way to visit me even though you are busy.
Example #2
その情報は、わざわざ調べなくても知っていたよ。
Furigana: そのじょうほうは、わざわざしらべなくてもしっていたよ。
Romaji: Sono jouhou wa, wazawaza shirabenakute mo shitteita yo.
English: I already knew that information, so you didn’t have to look it up specially.
Example #3
彼は私の誕生日プレゼントをわざわざ手作りしてくれた。
Furigana: かれはわたしのたんじょうびプレゼントをわざわざてづくりしてくれた。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no tanjoubi purezento o wazawaza tezukuri shite kureta.
English: He specially made my birthday present by hand.
Example #4
わざわざ遠いところまで来ていただいて申し訳ありません。
Furigana: わざわざとおいところまできていただいてもうしわけありません。
Romaji: Wazawaza tooi tokoro made kite itadaite moushiwake arimasen.
English: I am truly sorry for having you go out of your way to come all this distance.
Example #5
彼女は、わざわざ私のために時間を作ってくれた。
Furigana: かのじょは、わざわざわたしのためにじかんをつくってくれた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa, wazawaza watashi no tame ni jikan o tsukutte kureta.
English: She specially made time for me.
Example #6
これは、店員さんがわざわざ裏から持ってきてくれた商品だ。
Furigana: これは、てんいんさんがわざわざうらからもってきてくれたしょうひんだ。
Romaji: Kore wa, ten’in-san ga wazawaza ura kara motte kite kureta shouhin da.
English: This is a product that the store clerk went out of their way to bring from the back.
Example #7
彼は私に会うために、大阪からわざわざ東京へ来た。
Furigana: かれはわたしにあうために、おおさかからわざわざとうきょうへきた。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi ni au tame ni, Oosaka kara wazawaza Toukyou e kita.
English: He came all the way from Osaka to Tokyo just to see me.
Example #8
わざわざ連絡しなくても、メールで十分だったのに。
Furigana: わざわざれんらくしなくても、メールでじゅうぶんだったのに。
Romaji: Wazawaza renraku shinakute mo, meeru de juubun datta noni.
English: You didn’t have to go to the trouble of contacting me; an email would have been enough.
Example #9
そんな大切なことを、なぜわざわざ隠していたのですか？
Furigana: そんなたいせつなことを、なぜわざわざかくしていたのですか？
Romaji: Sonna taisetsu na koto o, naze wazawaza kakushite ita no desu ka?
English: Why did you purposely hide such an important thing?
Example #10
わざわざありがとうございます。
Furigana: わざわざありがとうございます。
Romaji: Wazawaza arigatou gozaimasu.
English: Thank you for going to the trouble (of doing that).
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Always modifies a verb.
It functions as an adverb of manner, describing the *way* the action was performed (with special effort/intention).
Example: わざわざ**電話する**
Often implies gratitude or apology.
When used toward others, it acknowledges their effort and is a polite phrase, often coupled with ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) or 申し訳ありません (moushiwake arimasen).
Example: わざわざ来てくれて。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using わざわざ for actions that required no special effort (e.g., 毎日水を飲む).
✅ Use ただ (tada) or 単に (tanni) for simple actions.
The word must imply effort, inconvenience, or a deliberate choice taken over an easier option. Do not use it for actions that require no special effort.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: High. It is a very polite phrase when used toward others, as it acknowledges and validates the effort they expended.
Social Situations: Used extensively when receiving gifts, visits, or assistance, acting as a crucial element in acknowledging the effort put in by the giver.
Regional Variations: The meaning remains consistent across regions, though frequency in daily speech may vary slightly.
🔍 Subtle Differences
わざわざ vs. せっかく
わざわざ focuses on the effort or inconvenience of the action taken. せっかく focuses on the result or opportunity created by the effort, often leading to regret if the opportunity is wasted.
When to use: Use わざわざ when thanking someone for their trouble. Use せっかく when lamenting a missed chance after effort was expended.
わざわざ vs. あえて
わざわざ means “specially/out of one’s way.” あえて means “daringly/purposely against opposition or expectation (to dare to do).”
When to use: Use わざわざ for actions requiring physical or mental effort. Use あえて for actions involving courage or defiance.
📝 Conjugation Notes
As a fixed adverb, わざわざ does not conjugate. It directly precedes the verb it modifies.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced with a flat pitch, often with slight emphasis on the first ‘wa’ (WA-za-wa-za).
🧠 Memory Tips
Associate the sound ‘waza’ (技, technique/skill) with effort. Think: “Using my WAZA to go out of my WAZA.”
Other Grammar
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