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Gogaku

All N3 grammar

N3

わざわざ

To go out of one's way (to do something not required)machine translation

Formationわざわざ + verb (an intentional, non-obligatory action)

わざわざ describes an action someone GOES OUT OF THEIR WAY to do even though it isn't required — spending extra time and effort beyond what's necessary: わざわざ駅まで届けてくれた (they went out of their way to bring it all the way to the station for me). That's why it appears constantly in expressions of thanks: 遠いところをわざわざありがとうございます (thank you for coming all this way).

The flip side: when talking about something unnecessary, わざわざ turns into "why bother": 電話で済むのに、わざわざ行く必要はない (a phone call would do — no need to go all the way there). Context decides whether the sentence is gratitude or grumbling.

Don't confuse it with わざと — also "deliberately," but with a bad meaning: intentionally doing harm or faking (わざと負けた — lost on purpose). Quick rule: わざわざ = taking the trouble (usually good, thank-worthy), わざと = on purpose (usually bad, blameworthy).

Examples

Related patterns

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