“waza to・waza waza”: On Purpose / Going Out of One's Way (two confusable adverbs) [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“fell on purpose” vs “came all the way” — doing on purpose (negative) vs taking the trouble (positive)
「わざと壊した」 vs 「わざわざ来てくれた」 — “on purpose” vs “going out of one's way”
Both contain 「ざ」 and mean “deliberately,” but 「わざと」 and 「わざわざ」 differ completely: わざと = on purpose, deliberately (often negative, malicious) (わざと壊した = broke it on purpose); わざわざ = specially, going to the trouble (often positive, taking effort) (わざわざ来てくれた = came specially (thank you)). This guide covers these two easily-confused adverbs, splitting “ill intent” from “taking the trouble.”
Core: わざと = intent (negative)／わざわざ = effort (positive)
Both are “deliberate,” but with opposite feels:
- わざと = do it with intent, on purpose (often malicious, negative): わざと負けた (lost on purpose), わざと無視した (ignored on purpose).
- わざわざ = specially, going to the trouble (could've skipped it, but did it specially — often with thanks, or “for nothing”): わざわざ来てくれた (came specially (thanks)), わざわざ買いに行った (went specially to buy it).
Test: “with intent (often bad)” = わざと; “taking the trouble (needn't have)” = わざわざ.
How to Connect
| Adverb | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| わざと | on purpose, deliberate (negative) | わざと壊す |
| わざわざ | specially, taking trouble (positive/for nothing) | わざわざ来る （comes all the way specially） |
| (contrast) | intent vs effort | わざと≠わざわざ |
例句解析
- 子供が、わざとおもちゃを壊した。(The kid broke the toy on purpose.) — on purpose (malice)
- わざわざお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。(Thank you for coming all this way.) — specially (thanks)
- 彼はわざと負けてくれた。(He lost to me on purpose.) — on purpose (kind intent)
- わざわざ遠くまで買いに行った。(I went all the way out to buy it.) — taking trouble
- わざと間違えて、笑わせた。(I got it wrong on purpose to make people laugh.) — on purpose
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① Don't swap わざと (intent) with わざわざ (effort). 「わざと来た」 = came on purpose (with malice, sounds odd); 「わざわざ来た」 = came specially (took the trouble, normal). Do (a bad thing) on purpose → わざと; take the trouble (a good thing) → わざわざ.
② わざと is mostly negative (with intent). Often for “doing something bad, knowingly” (わざと嘘をつく = lie on purpose). There's also “kind-intent on purpose” (わざと負ける = lose on purpose to let them win), but the core is “with intent.”
③ わざわざ carries “needn't have, yet specially.” Often with thanks (わざわざありがとう = thanks for the trouble) or regret (わざわざ行ったのに休みだった = went specially but it was closed). The point is “specially spent effort/time.”
🔄 Compare with similar forms: わざと／わざわざ／せっかく
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| わざと | on purpose, with intent | わざと負ける （loses on purpose） |
| わざわざ | specially, taking trouble (mostly positive) | わざわざ来る （comes all the way specially） |
| せっかく | rare chance, specially (cherish/regret) | せっかく来たのに |
💡 An exam judgment tip
「わざと」 and 「わざわざ」 look alike and both mean “deliberately,” but you must split them: わざと = on purpose, with intent (often negative, malicious) (わざと壊した = broke it on purpose, わざと負けた = lost on purpose); わざわざ = specially, taking the trouble (often positive, thanks or for nothing) (わざわざ来てくれた = came specially, thanks for the trouble). Mnemonic: 「わざと」 is about “intent” (did it knowingly), 「わざわざ」 is about “effort” (needn't have, yet did it specially). Swapping them is awkward — 「わざわざ壊した」 (specially broke it? odd), 「わざと来てくれた」 (came on purpose? rude). There's also 「せっかく」 (a rare chance, specially, cherishing/regretful). Split this set and your adverbs get precise.
❓ Questions you might have
Q: How do I tell 「わざと」 from 「わざわざ」?
By “with intent” vs “taking the trouble.” 「わざと」 = on purpose, with intent (stressing “deliberate,” often negative/malicious): わざと壊した (broke it on purpose), わざと無視した (ignored on purpose). 「わざわざ」 = specially, taking the trouble (could've skipped it, yet spent time/effort, often positive, with thanks): わざわざ来てくれた (came specially (thanks)), わざわざ買いに行った (went specially to buy it). Test: doing (a bad thing) “with intent” = わざと; “taking the trouble” (often good) = わざわざ. 「わざと来た (came on purpose, odd)」 vs 「わざわざ来た (came specially, normal)」 makes it clear.
Q: Is 「わざと負ける」 good or bad? Is わざと always malicious?
Not always malicious — the core is “with intent, deliberate.” Often negative (わざと嘘をつく = lie on purpose, わざとぶつかる = bump on purpose). But there's also “kind, purposeful intent”: わざと負ける (lose on purpose, e.g. to make a child happy), わざと大げさに言う (exaggerate on purpose to get a laugh). So 「わざと」 = “knowingly, deliberately do it,” and context decides malice or kindness — but it's always “with intent” (as opposed to “by accident”). 「わざわざ」 has no malice question — it's purely “specially taking the trouble.”
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「子供が___おもちゃを壊した。」（the child broke the toy on purpose）
(A) わざと (B) わざわざ (C) そろそろ (D) たまに
Q2. 「___お越しいただき、ありがとうございます。」（thank you for coming all this way）
(A) わざわざ (B) わざと (C) 別に (D) もうすぐ
Q3. 「わざと負けた」の意味は?
(A) Lost on purpose (deliberately)
(B) Lost by accident
(C) Tried hard but lost
(D) Didn't lose
Q4. 「わざと」と「わざわざ」の違いとして正しいのは?
(A) わざと = on purpose (often negative); わざわざ = going out of one's way, taking special trouble (often paired with thanks)
(B) The two are exactly the same
(C) わざと = gratitude
(D) わざわざ = malice
Q5. 「わざわざ」が自然なのは?
(A) わざわざ遠くから来てくれた。 (B) わざわざ皿を割って怒られた。
(C) わざわざ嘘をついて人をだます。 (D) わざわざ足を踏んだ。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) わざと ── Broke it on purpose (negative intent).
2. (A) わざわざ ── Came all this way (thanks).
3. (A) ── Lost on purpose (deliberately).
4. (A) ── わざと: on purpose; わざわざ: taking special trouble.
5. (A) ── わざわざ is mostly for taking trouble / positive; (B)(C)(D) are doing bad things on purpose, which should use わざと.