Translation guide
The English phrase 'very well' can express high quality, good health, thorough understanding, or formal acceptance. This guide helps learners choose natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Describing something done with excellence or high proficiency.
Adverbial form of 上手 (skillful). Used for performing an action skillfully.
彼女はピアノを上手に弾く。
She plays the piano very well.
Literally 'extremely well'. More emphatic and formal than 上手に.
このレポートは非常に良く書けている。
This report is written very well.
Adverbial form of うまい (skillful/good). More casual than 上手に.
彼は料理をうまく作る。
He cooks very well.
Responding to 'How are you?' or describing one's health status.
Standard response meaning 'I'm fine/well'. Polite form.
A: お元気ですか？ B: はい、元気です。
A: How are you? B: I'm very well, thank you.
Emphasizes 'very well' by adding とても (very).
おかげさまで、とても元気です。
Thanks to you, I'm very well.
Expressing that one knows or understands something completely.
Literally 'know well'. Used for familiarity with facts or people.
彼のことはよく知っています。
I know him very well.
Literally 'understand well'. Emphasizes comprehension.
その問題はよく分かっています。
I understand the problem very well.
Used in formal contexts to accept a suggestion or acknowledge a statement, similar to 'very well, I'll do it'.
Very polite expression used in service situations to mean 'certainly' or 'understood'.
A: この書類をコピーしてください。 B: かしこまりました。
A: Please copy this document. B: Very well.
Formal 'I understand/consent'. Slightly less polite than かしこまりました but still respectful.
A: 明日の会議に出席してください。 B: 承知しました。
A: Please attend tomorrow's meeting. B: Very well.
Standard 'I understand'. Can be used in less formal acceptance, but may sound abrupt if not softened.
Can sound blunt in formal situations; use かしこまりました or 承知しました for politeness.
A: この仕事を終わらせてください。 B: 分かりました。
A: Please finish this work. B: Very well.
The phrase 'very well' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Translating it word-for-word as 非常に良く (hijō ni yoku) is only appropriate for describing quality, not for health or acceptance.
Both mean 'skillfully', but 上手に is neutral/formal, while うまく is casual. Use 上手に in polite conversation and うまく with friends.
彼は日本語を上手に話す。
He speaks Japanese very well. (polite)
彼は日本語をうまく話す。
He speaks Japanese very well. (casual)