“waza to・waza waza”: On Purpose / Going Out of One's Way (two confusable adverbs) [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
“fell on purpose” vs “came all the way” — doing on purpose (negative) vs taking the trouble (positive)
“waza to・waza waza”: On Purpose / Going Out of One's Way
Both contain ざ and mean “deliberately,” but differ: わざと = “on purpose, intentionally,” often negative (knowingly doing what one shouldn't): 「子供がわざとおもちゃを壊した」 (the kid broke the toy on purpose); わざわざ = “specially, going out of one's way,” meaning taking extra trouble to do something (often with thanks): 「わざわざ遠くから来てくれた」 (came all the way from far). One is “intent (often bad),” the other “taking trouble (often kind/a bother).”
🧠 Core nuance: わざと = doing it on purpose, わざわざ = taking the trouble to do it
The key difference: わざと stresses intent, deliberateness — knowingly doing it anyway, often negative (lose on purpose, break on purpose, ignore on purpose); わざわざ stresses going specially, out of one's way, spending effort one needn't have — taking trouble for something, often with thanks or a “why bother” feel (came specially, called specially). Simply: わざと is about “intent (often bad),” わざわざ about “the trouble taken (specially).”
📌 How to Connect
| Adverb | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| わざと ＋ verb | on purpose (often negative) | わざと負ける |
| わざわざ ＋ verb | specially, out of one's way (effort) | わざわざ来る |
| (わざわざ often with thanks) | 〜してくれる | わざわざありがとう |
💬 Example Sentences
- 子供が、わざとおもちゃを壊して親を困らせた。(The kid broke the toy on purpose to trouble the parents.) — on purpose (negative)
- 弟を喜ばせようと、わざと負けてあげた。(To please my brother, I lost on purpose.) — intentionally (kind)
- お忙しいのに、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 specially despite being busy.) — specially (thanks)
- わざわざ電話で知らせてくれた。(He went out of his way to call and let me know.) — taking the trouble
- そんなこと、わざわざ言わなくてもいいのに。(You needn't go out of your way to say such a thing.) — why bother specially
🔄 Compare: わざと vs わざわざ vs あえて vs つい
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| わざと | “on purpose” (often negative) | わざと壊す |
| わざわざ | “specially, out of one's way” (effort, often thanks) | わざわざ来る |
| あえて | “deliberately (despite knowing)” (with a reason) | あえて厳しく言う |
| つい | “involuntarily, by accident” (unintentional, opposite) | つい食べすぎる |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Swapping わざと/わざわざ: on purpose (intent, often bad) → わざと; taking trouble specially (often thanks) → わざわざ.
- わざわざ with bad intent: ✗ わざわざ嘘をついてだます → malicious intent uses わざと.
- わざと with a kind bother: ✗ わざと遠くから来てくれた (thanks) → coming specially uses わざわざ.
- Feel: わざと is about intent, わざわざ about the trouble taken.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
わざと・わざわざ both mean deliberate, but differ: わざと is “on purpose, intentionally,” stressing intent, often negative (break on purpose, lose on purpose); わざわざ is “specially, out of one's way,” stressing taking extra trouble, often with thanks or a “why bother” feel (came specially, called specially). Simply: わざと is about “intent (often bad),” わざわざ about “the trouble taken (specially).” The opposite of the unintentional つい. Extremely common; don't mix them up. A must at N4.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N4: わざと = on purpose (often negative); わざわざ = specially/out of one's way (effort, often thanks).
- Distinction: わざと (intent, often bad) vs わざわざ (trouble, often good) vs つい (unintentional, opposite).
- Key: for “intent” use わざと; for “taking trouble specially” use わざわざ.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「子供が___おもちゃを壊した。」（小孩故意弄壞玩具）
(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。」（感謝您特地前來）
(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) 故意輸的(存心)
(B) 不小心輸了
(C) 努力卻輸了
(D) 沒有輸
Q4. 「わざと」と「わざわざ」の違いとして正しいのは?
(A) わざと＝故意(常負面);わざわざ＝專程特意費心(常配感謝)
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) わざと＝感謝
(D) わざわざ＝惡意
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。
答案解析
1. (A) わざと ── 故意弄壞(負面意圖)。
2. (A) わざわざ ── 特地前來(感謝)。
3. (A) ── 故意輸(存心)。
4. (A) ── わざと 故意;わざわざ 專程費心。
5. (A) ── わざわざ 多用於費心・正面;(B)(C)(D) 是故意做壞事,該用わざと。