「Very」と「Really」の違いとは？自然な英語を話すための使い分けガイド

Many English learners use “very” and “really” in the same way.

Both words make adjectives stronger:

• very cold

• really cold

But there are some small differences in meaning, style, and when to use them.

In this post, we’ll look at the differences, give clear examples, and help you use both naturally.

1. What Do “Very” and “Really” Mean?

Very and really are both adverbs that mean “a lot” or “more than normal.”

Examples:

• “It’s very hot today.”

• “It’s really hot today.”

• “She’s very tired.”

• “She’s really tired.”

Both are correct, and in many cases, they mean the same thing.

2. Which One Is More Natural?

In spoken English, “really” is often more common.

✅ “It’s really cold today.”

❌ “It’s very cold today.” (not wrong, but a little formal)

✅ “He’s really nice.”

❌ “He’s very nice.” (sounds polite, but not casual)

Cultural Tip:

In daily conversation, “really” sounds more relaxed and friendly.

“Very” can feel more serious or more polite. It is more common in writing or formal speech.

3. Which One Is Stronger?

Really is often a little stronger than “very.”

Compare:

• “I’m very hungry.” (normal strong)

• “I’m really hungry.” (stronger feeling)

You can also use really with strong adjectives.

Strong adjectives are words that already mean “more of something”.
e.g. '“amazing” means “more good”

Examples:

• “That’s really amazing.” (✅ OK)

• “That’s very amazing.” (❌ Not natural)

Other strong adjectives:

• fantastic

• horrible

• freezing

• exhausted

• delicious

✅ “This food is really delicious.”

❌ “This food is very delicious.” (not natural English)

4. Can You Use Them with Verbs?

You can use “really” before verbs – but not “very.”

✅ “I really like that movie.”

❌ “I very like that movie.”

✅ “He really wants to come.”

❌ “He very wants to come.”

Grammar Tip:

Use “really” before verbs to show strong feelings or opinions.

“Very” cannot be used like this.

Quick Practice

Choose the best word – very or really – for each sentence:

1. I’m ______ happy to see you.

2. He ______ loves chocolate cake.

3. That’s a ______ terrible idea.

4. I’m ______ tired today.

5. It’s ______ important to be on time.

Final Thoughts

“Very” and “really” are similar, but not the same.

• Use very for simple adjectives (very cold, very hungry).

• Use really for strong adjectives (really amazing, really horrible).

• Use really before verbs (really like, really want).

• In general conversation, really often sounds more natural.

Try listening to native speakers, and notice when they use each one.

Practice using both words to make your English sound more fluent and natural!

Possible Answers:

1. really / very (both OK)

2. really

3. really

4. really / very (both OK)

5. very