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Is it true that the prefix 超 to mean “very” is seldom used in written works
(like novels, not counting direct speech), and is usually only used when
talking?
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2011-06-11T17:08:56.523
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2015-06-16T13:19:38.970
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question
words usage register prefixes
Is 超 (chō) seldom used in written works?
It depends on what kind of written works you consider.

As Boaz wrote in a comment on the question, 超 (ちょう) meaning “very” is very
colloquial. It is highly unlikely to see it in formal contexts, written or
spoken.

However, this does not mean that 超 (also written チョー or ちょー) is not used in
written Japanese. See latest search results on Google of
["超"](http://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E8%B6%85%22&hl=ja&tbs=rltm%3A1),
["チョー"](http://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%BC%22&hl=ja&tbs=rltm%3A1)
and
["ちょー"](http://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%83%BC%22&hl=ja&tbs=rltm%3A1)
(but note that not everything in the results is this usage).
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2011-06-12T01:46:50.590
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2011-06-12T01:46:50.590
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answer
We should also note that while 超- meaning "very" is colloquial, 超- meaning
"super" or "above" (the "original" meaning of the kanji) is entirely
acceptable as a prefix in a literary work. In fact, many words rely on it:

> 超大国 【ちょうたいこく】 superpower, as in US or USSR during the Cold War (from
> WWWJDIC)

大国 is a word in its own right - 超- is just a prefix.

_EDIT:_

This answer was kind of an addendum, but has been upvoted a bit (thanks!). I
still agree with Tsuyoshi Ito's answer of "no you shouldn't use it in written
works" as long as we're talking about the OP's meaning of "very".
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2011-06-12T06:12:58.043
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2011-06-12T23:40:05.610
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answer