Sometimes someone does more than was necessary: they travel somewhere just to see you, make an extra stop to help you, or take additional time to do something on your behalf. In Japanese, わざわざ is used to emphasize that kind of special or extra effort.
わざわざ
Going out of one’s way / taking the trouble to do something
JLPT Level: N3
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How to Use It
わざわざ describes intentionally making an extra effort to do something, especially when it would have been easier not to. It is often used when showing appreciation.
However, わざわざ does not always express gratitude. Depending on the sentence and tone, it can also suggest that the effort was unnecessary or excessive.
The core idea stays the same: someone deliberately made an extra effort.
Usage Pattern
わざわざ + [verb/verb phrase]
Example 1
わざわざ来てくれてありがとうございます。
わざわざ きて くれて ありがとう ございます。
Wazawaza kite kurete arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you for going out of your way to come.
Example 2
彼はわざわざ駅まで迎えに来てくれました。
かれ は わざわざ えき まで むかえ に きて くれました。
Kare wa wazawaza eki made mukae ni kite kuremashita.
He went out of his way to come pick me up at the station.
Example 3
わざわざそんなことを言わなくてもいいよ。
わざわざ そんな こと を いわなくても いい よ。
Wazawaza sonna koto o iwanakute mo ii yo.
You don’t have to go out of your way to say something like that.
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