KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Quantity and comparison

いちばん

Expresses the highest degree or preference

Meaning

Expresses the highest degree or preference.

Formation

  1. It goes right before the adjective or verb: いちばん安い, いちばん好き

When to use it

Core use
Expresses the highest degree or preference

Examples

14 sentences

  • この店みせがいちばん安いやすいです

    This shop is the cheapest.

  • 春はるがいちばん好きすきです

    I like spring best.

  • 家族かぞくの中なかで兄あにが一番いちばん背せが高いたかいです

    My older brother is the tallest in our family.

  • どの季節きせつが一番いちばん好きすきですか

    Which season do you like best?

  • どれがいちばん安いやすいですか

    Which one is the cheapest?

  • 朝あさがいちばん忙しいいそがしいです

    Mornings are my busiest time.

  • いちばん前まえの席せきに座りすわりました

    I sat in the very front seat.

  • いちばん好きすきな食べ物たべものはすしです

    My favourite food is sushi.

6 more examples

  • このかばんがいちばん軽いかるいです

    This bag is the lightest.

  • 誰だれがいちばん早くはやく来きましたか

    Who came earliest?

  • この料理りょうりがいちばんおいしかったです

    This dish was the most delicious.

  • 駅えきにいちばん近いちかいホテルはどこですか

    Which hotel is closest to the station?

  • あの店みせのラーメンがいちばん有名ゆうめいです

    That restaurant's ramen is the most famous.

  • 旅行りょこうの中でのなかで去年きょねんの京都旅行きょうとりょこうがいちばん楽しかったたのしかったです

    Of all my trips, last year's trip to Kyoto was the most enjoyable.

Important notes

  • いちばん before an adjective or verb means 'most' within a group that is clear from context: これがいちばん便利です. As a noun it can mean 'number one': 一番のバス.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use いちばん for a plain 'very': とてもおいしい (very tasty) vs いちばんおいしい (the tastiest). Two items are compared with より and のほうが.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. このかばんがいちばん軽いかるいです
  2. 駅えきにいちばん近いちかいホテルはどこですか
  3. 旅行りょこうの中でのなかで去年きょねんの京都旅行きょうとりょこうがいちばん楽しかったたのしかったです

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