What it means
わざわざ is an adverb meaning “taking the trouble to,” “specially,” or “expressly.” It highlights that someone makes a special effort, goes out of their way, or does something that was not strictly necessary. Its position is flexible: it often appears before the verb or predicate, but it can also occur elsewhere in the clause, such as before a beneficiary or object phrase. Depending on context and intonation, it can express appreciation, mild surprise, or criticism about unnecessary effort. It can be used in both familiar and polite sentences without changing form.
Usage note
わざわざ usually implies a special effort or inconvenience, so it is not a neutral substitute for “very” or “intentionally.” It is also commonly used in expressions such as わざわざ来てくれてありがとう, where the speaker appreciates the other person’s effort.
How to use it
彼はわざわざ私のために弁当を作ります。
He takes the trouble to make a bento for me.
彼はわざわざ私のために弁当を作る。
He takes the trouble to make a bento for me.
Example sentences
遠い店までわざわざ歩いて、限定のパンを買った。
I took the trouble to walk all the way to a distant shop to buy limited-edition bread.
先生はわざわざ海外から資料を取り寄せてくださいました。
The teacher went to the trouble of ordering the materials from overseas for me.
雨の中、わざわざ駅まで傘を届
