53253
Both adverbs has the basic meaning "most, extremely". There are also ずいぶん and
とても.

So, とても is the first word we usually learn that means "very". Then I learned
最も as a superlative. As for ずいぶん, I understand that it is somewhat subjective
to the speaker and carries a feeling of surpise. And now I stumbled across
非常に, how is it different from the other superlatives?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T08:02:50.307
53241
2017-09-14T19:38:07.347
2017-09-14T08:25:08.310
25801
25801
question
synonyms
What is the difference between 非常に and 最も?
非常{ひじょう} as a noun means "Unusual situation", "Emergency". As a adjective it
has meaning "outstanding", "unusual", "not average". It indicates difference
from a normal state.

Examples from [Explanatory
dictionary](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/184672/meaning/m0u/) can be
helpful:

「非常に悲しい{かなしい}」- very sad

「非常な才能{さいのう}」- unusual talent

とても just makes following adjective stronger. Often they are interchangeable,
but 非常に feels a little bit stronger and as I sad also indicates "unusuality".
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T16:05:40.033
53253
2017-09-14T16:05:40.033
25610
53241
answer
I think the meaning of 非常に is similar to とても. Goo dictionary says 非常に is often
used in the case of negative things like 非常に悲しい, 非常に遺憾だ and so on. I feel 非常に
is a little stiff, so I don't often use and hear it in casual conversation.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T16:48:37.870
53254
2017-09-14T19:23:34.183
2017-09-14T19:23:34.183
7320
7320
53241
answer
Since neither of the two answers seemed to address the word 最も, I'll answer.

To me "非常に" and "とても" have very similar meaning, however 非常に sounds a bit more
formal. I can see a young person saying とても but have a harder time imagining
them saying 非常に.

"最も", in my experience, is usually used to mean "the most", in the sense that
it is #1 in some category (like 一番). So ”最も好きな人” would mean "the person I like
the most". 非常に would have a very different nuance and not feel as it is
indicating the "best" like 最も does.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T19:38:07.347
53257
2017-09-14T19:38:07.347
11825
53241
answer