Intensity Adverbs

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
조금, 많이, 별로, 전혀, 정말, 진짜, 너무
Lesson
36

TL;DR

  • Korean has specific adverbs to express how much or how intense something is
  • Some adverbs are positive (조금, 많이, 정말, 진짜, 너무), while others are negative and need negative verb endings (별로, 전혀)
  • These adverbs always come before the verb or adjective they're describing

What are intensity adverbs? 🎚️

Intensity adverbs tell us how much of something there is, or how strong a feeling or action is.
Think of them like volume knobs for your sentences!

Positive intensity adverbs ✨

These work with regular (positive) sentences:
조금 = a little, a bit
→ 저는 한국어를 조금 알아요.
→ 조금만 기다려 주세요.
많이 = a lot, very much
→ 저는 김치를 많이 좋아해요.
→ 많이 드세요!
정말 = really, truly
→ 정말 맛있어요!
→ 정말 고마워요.
진짜 = really (more casual than 정말)
→ 진짜 예뻐요!
→ 진짜 재미있었어요.
너무 = too much, very (can be positive or slightly negative depending on context)
→ 너무 좋아요!
→ 너무 비싸요.

Negative intensity adverbs ⚠️

These adverbs must be used with negative verb endings (안 or -지 않다):
별로 = not really, not particularly
→ 저는 커피를 별로 안 좋아해요.
→ 별로 안 매워요.
전혀 = not at all (stronger than 별로)
→ 저는 한국어를 전혀 몰라요.
→ 전혀 안 피곤해요.

Word order 📍

Intensity adverbs always go before the verb or adjective:
Subject + Adverb + Verb/Adjective
→ 저는 많이 먹었어요.
→ 날씨가 정말 좋아요.
→ 저는 야채를 별로 안 먹어요.

Exceptions 💡

Using 너무 in positive contexts:
Technically, 너무 means "too much" (implying something excessive or negative), but Koreans often use it in positive contexts in casual speech.
→ 너무 좋아요! (Very good! — even though literally it means "too good")
In formal writing or more precise speech, use 정말 or 아주 instead for purely positive meanings.
별로 and 전혀 without negatives:
You'll occasionally hear 별로 or 전혀 used alone in super casual speech (like just saying "별로..." to mean "not really"), but this is incomplete. In proper sentences, always pair them with negative verb forms!
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate intensity adverb (조금, 많이, 별로, 전혀, 정말, 진짜, 너무). 📊
 
  • 저는 커피를 _ 좋아해요. (I really like coffee.)
      • Answer
      정말 / 진짜 / 많이
 
 
  • 오늘 날씨가 _ 더워요. (Today's weather is too hot.)
      • Answer
      너무
 
 
  • 한국어를 _ 배웠어요. (I learned Korean a little.)
      • Answer
      조금
 
 
  • 이 음식은 _ 맛있어요. (This food is really delicious.)
      • Answer
      정말 / 진짜 / 너무
 
 
  • 저는 매운 음식을 _ 안 좋아해요. (I don't really like spicy food.)
      • Answer
      별로
 
 
  • 어제 _ 피곤했어요. (I was very tired yesterday.)
      • Answer
      많이 / 정말 / 너무
 
 
  • 저는 운동을 _ 안 해요. (I don't exercise at all.)
      • Answer
      전혀
 
 
  • 오늘 _ 바빠요. (I'm a little busy today.)
      • Answer
      조금
 
 
  • 이 영화가 _ 재미있어요. (This movie is really interesting.)
      • Answer
      정말 / 진짜 / 너무
 
 
  • 김치를 _ 먹어요. (I eat kimchi a lot.)
      • Answer
      많이
 
Vocabulary
커피 - coffee
좋아하다 - to like
날씨 - weather
덥다 - to be hot
배우다 - to learn
음식 - food
맛있다 - to be delicious
매운 - spicy
피곤하다 - to be tired
운동 - exercise
바쁘다 - to be busy
영화 - movie
재미있다 - to be interesting
김치 - kimchi
먹다 - to eat
Common mistakes
  • ⚠️ Don't confuse 별로 (not really) with 전혀 (not at all) — 별로 is less strong and must be used with a negative verb ending
  • 🚫 Remember that 전혀 must always be paired with a negative form (안 or -지 않다)
  • 💡 정말 and 진짜 are interchangeable in casual speech, but 정말 is slightly more formal
  • ⚡ 너무 can have a negative connotation (excessively) or simply mean "very" depending on context