Expressions · N3
わざわざ: going out of one’s way
Recognize effort that was specifically made rather than incidental.
In short
わざわざ highlights that someone took extra trouble or made a special effort: わざわざ来てくれてありがとう, “Thank you for coming all this way.”
How it works
It can sound appreciative, neutral, surprised, or occasionally critical depending on context and intonation.
Useful contrast
The word focuses on deliberate extra effort, not merely physical distance.
Examples
わざわざ来てくれてありがとうございます。
Thank you for going out of your way to come.
わざわざ電話しました。
I specifically made a point of calling.
Common pitfall
Be careful using it in criticism; “you went out of your way to…” can sound pointed in Japanese too.