When you want to say “the most” in Japanese, the word you need is いちばん (ichiban).
It’s very common and easy to use, perfect for saying things like “I like sushi the most” or “Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan.”

You may have also seen 一番 (ichiban) used as the name of Japanese restaurants in your country, so it might already sound familiar to you.

In most cases, いちばん is used in a positive way. But actually, it works for both positive and negative cases. You can say “いちばん すき” (my favorite), but also “いちばん きらい” (the one I dislike the most) or “いちばん にがて” (the one I’m the worst at).

This makes いちばん super flexible for talking about your preferences and opinions!

Let’s check out how to use it in real sentences.

さいこう (最高 / saikou) → the best / awesome. Used casually to say something is the best or fantastic.

この本は さいこう！
このほんはさいこう！
kono hon ha saikkou!
This book is the best!

さいてい (最低 / saitei) → the worst. The opposite of さいこう. Used for very negative opinions.

このサービスは さいていだ。
kono saabisu ha saitei da
This service is the worst.

もっと (motto) → more (comparative, not superlative). Used when comparing two things, not showing the “number one.”

この本は あの本より もっと おもしろい。
このほんは、あのほんよりもっとおもしろい。
kono hon ha ano hon yori motto omoshiroi
This book is more interesting than that one.

日本でいちばん 高い山は 富士山です。
にほんでいちばんたかいやまはふじさんです。
nihon de ichiban takai yama ha Fujisan desu
The tallest mountain in Japan is Mt. Fuji.

わたしは おすしは、マグロがいちばん好きです。
わたしはおすしは、まぐろがいちばんすきです。
watashi ha osushi ha, maguro ga ichiban suki desu
Among sushi, I like tuna the most.

この日本食レストランは 町で いちばん人気があります。
このにほんしょくれすとらんはまちでいちばんにんきがあります。
kono Nihonshoku resutoran ha machi de ichiban ninki ga arimasu
This Japanese restaurant is the most popular in town.

人前で はっぴょうするのは 私にとって いちばん苦手なことです。
ひとまえではっぴょうするのはわたしにとっていちばんにがてなことです。
hitomae de happyou suru no ha watashi ni totte ichiban nigate na koto desu
Giving a presentation in front of people is the thing I’m the worst at.

このえいがは 今まで見た中で いちばんつまらなかった。
このえいがは、いままでみたなかでいちばんつまらなかった。
kono eiga ha ima made mita naka de ichiban tsumaranakatta
This was the most boring movie I’ve ever seen.

私がいちばん行きたい国は 日本だ。
わたしがいちばんいきたいくにはにほんだ。
watashi ga ichiban ikitai kuni ha Nihon da
The country I want to visit the most is Japan.

日本語の先生で いちばん好きな先生は だれ？
にほんごのせんせいでいりばんすきなせんせいはだれ？
nihongo no sensei de ichiban suki na sensei ha dare?
Who is your favorite Japanese teacher?

• Grammar Point: いちばん (ichiban)
• JLPT Level: N5
• Meaning: The most, number one, the best
• Quick Explanation:  いちばん is used to show the highest degree.
  It usually comes before an adjective, adverb, or noun to express “the most …”.
  

So that’s how we use いちばん in Japanese!
It’s simple but very powerful: you can use it for your favorites, but also for things you dislike or struggle with.

By practicing with いちばん, you’ll be able to express your true preferences and opinions more naturally in Japanese.

Be sure to try using it! You can do it!

And I’ll do my best to be いちばん fun and funny Japanese teacher for all of you!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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