Literally; exactly according to the words used — taken without metaphor or exaggeration.
彼は文字通り命がけで仕事をしている。
He is literally risking his life for his work.
その山は文字通り手の届かない高さだった。
That mountain was literally at an unreachable height.
彼の言葉を文字通り受け取るのは危険だ。
It's dangerous to take his words literally.
Literal (as a noun): the literal meaning or interpretation (used in phrases like 'the literal meaning').
この表現の文字通りの意味は少し古い。
The literal meaning of this expression is somewhat old-fashioned.
文学研究では文字通りの解釈と比喩的な解釈を区別する。
In literary studies, literal interpretation is distinguished from figurative interpretation.
『文字通りの意味』と『比喩的な意味』を説明した。
I explained the 'literal meaning' and the 'figurative meaning.'