How Much Do You Really Know About “kureguremo”?

You have probably heard とにかく to mean “anyway” and 絶対ぜったいに to mean “absolutely” — but have you come across くれぐれも? This relatively advanced adverb carries a feeling of earnest, heartfelt pleading that those other words cannot match. When you want to say “please, I really mean it — be sure to…” in Japanese, くれぐれも is your word.

Yuka

くれぐれもってどういう意味？とにかくと違うの？(What does kureguremo mean? Is it different from tonikaku?)

Rei

くれぐれもは「心を込めてお願いします」という気持ちを込めた副詞だよ。とにかくとは全然違う意味だよ。(Kureguremo is an adverb that expresses a sincere, earnest request — “please, from the bottom of my heart.” It is completely different from tonikaku.)

At a Glance: くれぐれも

くれぐれも (kureguremo) — “Be sure to” / “I sincerely urge you”

くれぐれも is an adverb that adds a tone of deep sincerity and earnestness to a request. It often appears in formal or semi-formal situations: writing letters, seeing someone off on a journey, or giving heartfelt advice. Common fixed patterns include:
・くれぐれも + 気きをつけてください (Please take very good care of yourself.)
・くれぐれも + よろしくお伝つたえください (Please pass along my warmest regards.)

Sample

Yuka

くれぐれもお体からだに気きをつけてね。 (Please take very good care of your health.) (kureguremo okarada ni ki wo tsukete ne.)

Rei

くれぐれもご無理むりのないようにしてください。 (Please make sure you don’t overdo it.) (kureguremo go muri no nai yō ni shite kudasai.)

Yuka

くれぐれも遅おくれないようにしてね。 (Please make absolutely sure you’re not late.) (kureguremo okurenai yō ni shite ne.)

くれぐれも in Context: Farewells, Letters, and Advice

くれぐれも appears most naturally in:
1. Farewells — when you want to sincerely wish someone safety or good health
2. Letters and emails — as a closing expression of care
3. Advice to juniors — a teacher or parent urging someone strongly

Sample

Rei

くれぐれも先生せんせいによろしくお伝つたえください。 (Please pass along my warmest regards to the teacher.) (kureguremo sensei ni yoroshiku otsutae kudasai.)

Yuka

くれぐれも気きをつけて！じゃあね。 (Please take real good care of yourself. See you!) (kureguremo ki wo tsukete! jaa ne.)

とにかく vs ともかく vs くれぐれも

These three adverbs look and sound unrelated, but learners sometimes confuse them in context because all three can appear in sentences that urge action.

Quick Quiz: Fill in the Blank

Choose the most natural adverb (とにかく, ともかく, or くれぐれも) for each sentence.

1. _______ お体からだに気きをつけてください。 (Please sincerely take care of your health.)
2. _______ これを先さきに終おわらせよう。 (Anyway, let’s finish this first.)
3. 冗談じょうだんは_______, 次つぎはどうする？ (Joking aside, what do we do next?)

Answers: 1. くれぐれも　2. とにかく　3. ともかく

くれぐれも is a small word that carries a great deal of warmth and sincerity. Once you recognise it in letters and farewells, you will start noticing how often Japanese speakers use it to show genuine care for others.

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