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A2 adverb #500 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

あまり

amari
At the A1 level, students learn 'amari' as a simple vocabulary item that means 'not much.' The focus is entirely on the fixed pattern 'amari + [negative verb/adjective].' Learners are taught to use it to describe basic habits, such as 'I don't drink much coffee' (Amari koohii wo nomimasen) or 'I don't speak much Japanese' (Amari Nihongo wo hanashimasen). The goal is to move beyond simple 'yes/no' or 'do/don't' statements to express a degree of frequency. At this stage, the nuances of 'excess' or formal variations are not introduced. The primary challenge for A1 learners is remembering that 'amari' cannot be used with positive words like 'oishii' (delicious) to mean 'very delicious.' It is strictly a partner for the negative form. Teachers often use visual scales to show that 'amari' is more than 'zenzen' (zero) but less than 'tokidoki' (sometimes). This level is about building the habit of checking the sentence ending whenever 'amari' is used.
At the A2 level, the use of 'amari' expands to include adjectives and more varied social contexts. Students learn to conjugate i-adjectives into the '~kunai' form and na-adjectives into the '~ja nai' form to pair with 'amari.' For example, 'Kono heya wa amari hirokunai desu' (This room is not very spacious). A2 learners also begin to understand the social function of 'amari' as a 'softener.' They learn that saying 'Amari suki ja nai' is more polite than 'Kirai' (I hate it). This level introduces the concept of 'enryo' (restraint) in speech. Learners also encounter 'amari' in listening exercises involving weather reports ('Amari atsukunai deshou' - It probably won't be very hot) and simple reviews. The colloquial variation 'anmari' might be introduced as something heard in casual conversation. The focus is on consistency and accuracy in conjugation while beginning to appreciate the word's role in Japanese politeness.
At the B1 level, learners are introduced to the 'positive' or 'neutral' use of 'amari' to mean 'excessively' or 'too much.' This is often seen in the pattern 'amari ni (mo) + adjective/verb.' For example, 'Amari ni mo takasugiru' (It is far too expensive). This is a significant shift from the A2 focus on negatives. B1 students also learn the noun form 'amari' (余り), meaning 'the remainder' or 'leftovers,' often used in mathematical contexts or when talking about food. They begin to see 'amari' used as a conjunction at the start of a sentence to mean 'As a result of being too...' or 'Because of the excess of...' This level requires the student to distinguish between the adverbial 'not much' and the more advanced 'excessive' meanings based on the surrounding grammar. Understanding the 'amari ni' pattern is crucial for passing the JLPT N3 and for reading more complex texts like news articles or short stories.
At the B2 level, 'amari' is used in more sophisticated grammatical structures and literary contexts. One key pattern is '~ no amari,' which means 'so ... that' or 'out of such [emotion].' For example, 'Odoroki no amari, koe mo demasendeshita' (I was so surprised that I couldn't even speak). Here, 'amari' is treated as a noun following a noun + 'no.' This level also explores the use of 'amari' in formal written Japanese, where it might appear in reports to describe a lack of significant change or impact ('Amari henka wa miraremasen'). B2 learners are expected to use 'amari' and its synonyms (like 'sorehodo' or 'nakanaka') with precision, choosing the one that best fits the tone and context. They also learn idiomatic expressions like 'Amari da' (It's too much/cruel) and understand how 'amari' functions in classical-influenced modern Japanese. The focus is on nuance, emotional expression, and formal writing.
At the C1 level, the learner explores the historical and classical roots of 'amari.' They may encounter the word in classical literature (Kobun) where its meaning and usage patterns differ slightly from modern Japanese. In modern high-level discourse, C1 speakers use 'amari' to construct complex arguments about degree and consequence. They understand the subtle difference between 'amari' and its more academic counterparts like 'sayodo' or 'ikanari.' The 'amari ni mo' pattern is used for rhetorical effect to emphasize the extremity of a situation. C1 learners can also analyze the use of 'amari' in legal or technical documents where it might refer to specific remainders or surpluses. They are sensitive to the 'softening' effect of 'amari' in high-stakes negotiations and can use it to navigate complex social hierarchies. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a tool for sophisticated linguistic maneuvering.
At the C2 level, 'amari' is mastered in all its forms, including archaic, dialectal, and highly specialized uses. The speaker can appreciate the poetic use of 'amari' in tanka or haiku, where it might refer to the 'excess' of a season or an emotion that overflows the bounds of the poem. They are aware of regional variations in how 'amari' is shortened or emphasized. In professional translation or interpretation, a C2 level individual can perfectly capture the 'softness' of a Japanese 'amari' in English without losing the speaker's intent. They understand the philosophical implications of 'amari' (the remainder) in Japanese thought—the idea that what is left over or 'extra' defines the essence of a thing. At this level, the use of 'amari' is instinctive, flawless, and culturally resonant, reflecting a deep immersion in the Japanese language and psyche.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

あまり en 30 secondes

  • Used with negative endings to mean 'not much' or 'not very'.
  • Acts as a social softener to make statements less direct.
  • Can mean 'too much' when used with 'ni' in positive sentences.
  • Commonly shortened to 'anmari' in casual daily conversation.

The Japanese word あまり (amari) is a cornerstone of Japanese communication, primarily functioning as an adverb of degree. For English speakers, it is most commonly translated as 'not much' or 'not very' when paired with a negative verb or adjective. However, its linguistic roots go much deeper than a simple negation. Historically, amari comes from the verb amaru (余る), meaning 'to remain' or 'to be in excess.' This origin is vital for understanding its dual nature. While at the A2 level we focus on its use with negative endings to mean 'not very,' it can also mean 'too much' or 'excessively' in positive contexts (often as amari ni). This inherent sense of 'excess' is what creates the 'not very' meaning: you are saying that something does not reach the point of being 'extra' or 'notable.'

Grammatical Requirement
In its most common usage, amari must be followed by a negative predicate (ending in ~nai, ~masen, or ~dewa arimasen). Without the negative, the sentence will either sound incomplete or change meaning entirely to 'too much.'

この 料理は あまり 辛くないです。 (Kono ryouri wa amari karakunai desu.)

Translation: This food is not very spicy.

In daily life, Japanese speakers use amari to avoid being too direct or harsh. Japanese culture values enryo (restraint) and wa (harmony). Saying 'I hate this' (kirai desu) is often seen as too aggressive. Instead, a speaker will say 'I don't like it much' (amari suki dewa arimasen). This softens the blow and leaves room for social grace. You will hear this word constantly in restaurants, weather reports, and casual conversations about hobbies or preferences. It bridges the gap between 'a little bit' and 'not at all,' providing a nuanced middle ground of negation.

Degree of Intensity
If zenzen is 0% and totemo is 100%, amari ... nai sits comfortably around the 20-30% mark. It implies that while there is some presence of the quality, it is not significant.

最近、あまり 忙しくありません。 (Saikin, amari isogashiku arimasen.)

Translation: Lately, I haven't been very busy.

Furthermore, amari is frequently shortened to anmari in casual speech. This 'n' sound adds a colloquial flavor, making the speaker sound more relaxed. You might hear a teenager say, 'Anmari omoshirokunai' (It's not that interesting). Whether formal or casual, the function remains the same: quantifying the lack of something in a socially acceptable manner. Understanding amari is not just about learning a word; it is about learning the Japanese volume knob for social interaction.

Using あまり (amari) correctly requires a firm grasp of Japanese negation across different parts of speech. The most critical rule is the 'Negative Requirement.' If you use amari to describe a degree, the end of your sentence must be negative. Let's break down how this works with verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

With Verbs
Place amari before the verb. The verb must be in the ~nai form (casual) or ~masen form (polite). Example: 'Amari tabemasen' (I don't eat much).

私は お酒を あまり 飲みません。 (Watashi wa osake wo amari nomimasen.)

Translation: I don't drink alcohol much.

When used with i-adjectives, you must change the final ~i to ~kunai. For example, atsui (hot) becomes amari atsukunai (not very hot). This is a common stumbling block for beginners who might accidentally say 'amari atsui,' which would actually mean 'excessively hot'—the opposite of what they intended!

With Na-Adjectives
For na-adjectives, use the negative form ~ja nai or ~dewa arimasen. Example: 'Amari kirei ja nai' (Not very pretty/clean).

この 町は あまり 有名ではありません。 (Kono machi wa amari yuumei dewa arimasen.)

Translation: This town is not very famous.

Interestingly, amari can also function as a noun meaning 'the remainder' or 'leftovers.' In this case, it is often written with the kanji 余り. For example, 'Gohan no amari' means 'the leftovers of the meal.' However, in the adverbial sense of 'not much,' it is almost always written in hiragana. Advanced users also use the pattern ~no amari to mean 'due to excessive...' (e.g., ureshisa no amari - out of excessive joy). But for A2 learners, mastering the amari ... nai pattern is the priority. It is the most versatile way to express moderate negation in Japanese.

You will encounter あまり (amari) in almost every facet of Japanese life. It is one of the most 'useful' words because it allows for polite ambiguity. In a culture where saying 'no' directly is often avoided, amari acts as a linguistic shield. Let's look at specific scenarios where this word is indispensable.

In the Workplace
When a boss asks if a project is finished, and it's only halfway done, a worker might say, 'Amari susunde imasen' (It hasn't progressed much). This sounds better than 'It's not done.'

会議の 資料は あまり 良くないですね。 (Kaigi no shiryou wa amari yokunai desu ne.)

Translation: The meeting materials aren't very good, are they? (A soft critique).

In social settings, amari is used to describe habits. If someone asks if you play sports, and you only go jogging once a month, you would say 'Amari shimasen.' It accurately conveys that the activity is not a regular part of your life. You'll also hear it in shopping contexts. If a customer is looking at a shirt and the price is a bit high, they might tell the clerk, 'Amari yasuku nai desu ne' (It's not very cheap, is it?), which is a polite way to say 'This is expensive.'

Media and entertainment also use amari frequently. In anime or dramas, a character might say 'Anmari da yo!' (This is too much! / This is cruel!). Here, amari is used in its positive 'excessive' sense, though it's an idiomatic exclamation. In news reports, you might hear 'Amari eikyou wa arimasen' (There is not much influence/impact), used to downplay the severity of an event. From the most formal newsroom to the most casual street conversation, amari is the go-to word for managing expectations and softening statements.

Even though あまり (amari) is an A2 level word, it is frequently misused by English speakers because of the way 'very' works in English. In English, 'very' can be used in both positive ('very good') and negative ('not very good') sentences. In Japanese, amari is strictly for the negative side of the degree scale when used as an adverb of frequency or intensity.

Mistake 1: Using it with Positive Endings
Students often say 'Amari oishii desu' to mean 'It is very delicious.' This is incorrect. To say 'very delicious,' you must use totemo or sugoku. If you say 'Amari oishii,' a Japanese person might think you mean 'It's excessively delicious' (which sounds strange) or they will wait for you to finish the sentence with 'nai.'

❌ あまり 好きです。 (Amari suki desu.)

✅ とても 好きです。 (Totemo suki desu.)

Correction: Use 'totemo' for positive 'very'.

Another common error is confusing amari with zenzen. While both require a negative ending, zenzen means 'not at all' (0%), whereas amari means 'not much' (20-30%). If you say 'Amari wakarimasen,' you are saying you understand a little bit. If you say 'Zenzen wakarimasen,' you are saying you are completely lost. Using the wrong one can lead to confusion about your actual level of understanding or ability.

Finally, watch out for the 'i-adjective' conjugation. Many learners forget to change the adjective to its negative form. They might say 'Amari samui ja nai' instead of the correct 'Amari samukunai.' Remember: i-adjectives never use ja nai in standard Japanese; they use ~kunai. Mastering these small grammatical details will make your use of amari sound natural and professional.

To truly master あまり (amari), you should know how it compares to other adverbs of degree. Japanese has a rich variety of words to express 'how much' or 'how little' of something exists. Choosing the right one depends on the level of intensity and the formality of the situation.

Amari vs. Zenzen
Amari: Not much (some exists).
Zenzen: Not at all (zero exists). Both require negative endings.

全然 食べません (Zenzen tabemasen) vs あまり 食べません (Amari tabemasen).

Comparison: 'I don't eat it at all' vs 'I don't eat it much.'

Another alternative is sorehodo. This is slightly more formal than amari and often implies a comparison. While amari is a general 'not much,' sorehodo means 'not to that extent' or 'not as much as you might think.' If someone asks if a movie was great, you might say 'Sorehodo demo arimasen' (It wasn't that great).

Amari vs. Chotto
Chotto: A little bit (positive/neutral).
Amari: Not much (negative). Interestingly, 'Chotto...' used alone can also be a polite way to decline something, similar to 'Amari...'

Lastly, consider taishite. This is often used to express that something is 'not particularly' impressive or significant. 'Taishite omoshirokunai' means 'It's not particularly interesting.' It carries a slightly more dismissive or critical tone than the neutral amari. By learning these distinctions, you can express your thoughts with much greater precision and emotional resonance in Japanese.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"その件につきましては、あまり承知しておりません。"

Neutre

"この映画はあまり面白くなかったです。"

Informel

"あんまりお腹空いてない。"

Child friendly

"お野菜、あまり残さないでね。"

Argot

"あんまりだわー、それ。"

Le savais-tu ?

The transition from 'surplus' to 'not much' happened because 'amari' describes the space beyond a limit. In a negative sentence, it means 'not reaching that extra limit.'

Guide de prononciation

UK /əˈmɑːri/
US /əˈmɑri/
The pitch accent is typically 'Heiban' (flat), meaning the pitch starts low and stays high, or 'Atamadaka' (initial stress) depending on the dialect, but usually flat in standard Japanese.
Rime avec
Kamari Tamari Hikari Inari Omatsuri Tonari Yuzuri Watari
Erreurs fréquentes
  • Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r' (curling the tongue).
  • Stress-accenting the 'ma' too heavily.
  • Making the final 'i' too short.
  • Confusing it with 'amari' (the noun) in pitch.
  • Failing to elide the 'u' in 'anmari' if speaking quickly.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to read in hiragana; kanji is rare but simple.

Écriture 2/5

Simple hiragana strokes; negative conjugation is the only hard part.

Expression orale 3/5

Requires quick mental conjugation to the negative form.

Écoute 2/5

Very common and easy to hear, though 'anmari' can be fast.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

ない (nai) ません (masen) とても (totemo) 少し (sukoshi) 全然 (zenzen)

Apprends ensuite

それほど (sorehodo) なかなか (nakanaka) あまりに (amari ni) 過ぎる (sugiru) たいして (taishite)

Avancé

~のあまり (~no amari) 余儀なくされる (yoginakusareru) 余韻 (yoin)

Grammaire à connaître

Negative Polarity

Amari must be followed by a negative form to mean 'not much'.

I-Adjective Negation

Samui -> Samukunai. Amari samukunai.

Na-Adjective Negation

Shizuka -> Shizuka ja nai. Amari shizuka ja nai.

Verb Negation

Taberu -> Tabenai. Amari tabenai.

Adverbial Placement

Place 'amari' before the word it modifies.

Exemples par niveau

1

私は あまり 食べません。

I don't eat much.

Amari + negative verb (tabemasen).

2

コーヒーは あまり 飲みません。

I don't drink coffee much.

Amari + negative verb (nomimasen).

3

テレビを あまり 見ません。

I don't watch TV much.

Amari + negative verb (mimasen).

4

日本語が あまり わかりません。

I don't understand Japanese much.

Amari + negative verb (wakarimasen).

5

あまり 忙しくないです。

I'm not very busy.

Amari + negative i-adjective (isogashikunai).

6

今日は あまり 暑くないです。

It's not very hot today.

Amari + negative i-adjective (atsukunai).

7

あまり 遠くないです。

It's not very far.

Amari + negative i-adjective (tookunai).

8

この 本は あまり おもしろくないです。

This book is not very interesting.

Amari + negative i-adjective (omoshirokunai).

1

テストは あまり 難しくなかったです。

The test wasn't very difficult.

Amari + past negative i-adjective (muzukashikunakatta).

2

この 料理は あまり 辛くないです。

This food is not very spicy.

Amari + negative i-adjective (karakunai).

3

昨日は あまり 寝ませんでした。

I didn't sleep much yesterday.

Amari + past negative verb (nemasendeshita).

4

あの 人は あまり 親切ではありません。

That person is not very kind.

Amari + negative na-adjective (shinsetsu dewa arimasen).

5

この 部屋は あまり 静かじゃありません。

This room is not very quiet.

Amari + negative na-adjective (shizuka ja arimasen).

6

最近、あまり 運動していません。

Lately, I haven't been exercising much.

Amari + negative continuous verb (undou shite imasen).

7

映画は あまり 好きではありません。

I don't like movies very much.

Amari + negative na-adjective/noun-like (suki dewa arimasen).

8

あんまり 寒くないね。

It's not that cold, right? (Casual)

Casual 'anmari' + negative i-adjective.

1

あまりに 高かったので、買いませんでした。

It was so expensive that I didn't buy it.

Amari ni + positive adjective (meaning 'excessively').

2

あまりに 急だったので、驚きました。

It was so sudden that I was surprised.

Amari ni + positive na-adjective.

3

仕事が あまりに 忙しくて、休みがありません。

Work is so busy that I have no holidays.

Amari ni + positive i-adjective (te-form for cause).

4

お菓子の 余りを 子供にあげました。

I gave the leftovers of the sweets to the children.

Amari used as a noun (leftovers/remainder).

5

10を3で割ると、余りは1です。

When you divide 10 by 3, the remainder is 1.

Amari used as a mathematical noun (remainder).

6

あまりに 悲しくて、涙が出ました。

I was so sad that tears came out.

Amari ni + positive i-adjective.

7

その ニュースは あまりに 衝撃的でした。

That news was too shocking.

Amari ni + positive na-adjective.

8

あまりに お腹が空いて、動けません。

I am so hungry that I can't move.

Amari ni + positive phrase.

1

嬉しさの あまり、飛び上がりました。

Out of excessive joy, I jumped up.

Noun + no + amari (out of excessive...).

2

緊張の あまり、手が震えています。

Out of excessive nervousness, my hands are shaking.

Noun + no + amari.

3

あまりの 暑さに、外に出るのをやめました。

Due to the excessive heat, I gave up on going out.

Amari no + noun (due to excessive...).

4

あまりの 惨状に、言葉を失いました。

I was lost for words at the excessive devastation.

Amari no + noun.

5

彼は 怒りの あまり、我を忘れました。

Out of excessive anger, he lost control of himself.

Noun + no + amari.

6

あまりに 些細な ことで 喧嘩してしまった。

We ended up fighting over such a trivial thing.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

7

あまりに 遠い 昔のことで、覚えていません。

It was so long ago that I don't remember.

Amari ni + i-adjective.

8

あまりに 素晴らしい 演奏に 感動しました。

I was moved by the excessively wonderful performance.

Amari ni + i-adjective.

1

事態は さほど 悪化していないが、あまり 楽観もできない。

The situation hasn't worsened that much, but we can't be very optimistic either.

Formal use of amari with negative verb.

2

過労の あまり、彼は ついに 倒れてしまった。

Out of excessive overwork, he finally collapsed.

Noun + no + amari (resultative).

3

あまりに 身勝手な 振る舞いに、周囲は 呆れている。

People around him are appalled by his excessively selfish behavior.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

4

あまりに 巨大な 権力は、時として 腐敗を 招く。

Excessively great power sometimes leads to corruption.

Amari ni + i-adjective.

5

その 計画は あまりに 無謀だと言わざるを得ない。

I cannot help but say that the plan is excessively reckless.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

6

あまりの 忙しさに、自分を 見失いそうになる。

Due to excessive busyness, I feel like I'm losing myself.

Amari no + noun.

7

彼女は 悲しみの あまり、食事も 喉を通りませんでした。

Out of excessive sadness, she couldn't even eat.

Noun + no + amari.

8

あまりに 複雑な 問題で、一筋縄ではいかない。

It's such a complex problem that it won't be solved easily.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

1

古人の 遺した 言葉には、あまりに 深い 智慧が 込められている。

The words left by the ancients contain excessively deep wisdom.

Amari ni + i-adjective (literary).

2

あまりの 恐怖に、一歩も 動くことが 叶わなかった。

Due to excessive fear, I was unable to move even a single step.

Amari no + noun (formal/literary).

3

その 美しさは あまりに 儚く、幻のようであった。

That beauty was so fleeting, it was like an illusion.

Amari ni + i-adjective.

4

あまりに 膨大な データを 前に、途方に暮れる。

Faced with an excessively vast amount of data, I am at a loss.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

5

執着の あまり、彼は 魂を 売ってしまった。

Out of excessive obsession, he sold his soul.

Noun + no + amari.

6

あまりに 凄惨な 光景に、目を 背けずにはいられなかった。

I couldn't help but turn my eyes away from the excessively gruesome scene.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

7

あまりの 衝撃に、記憶が 断片化してしまった。

Due to the excessive shock, my memories became fragmented.

Amari no + noun.

8

あまりに 崇高な 理想は、現実との 乖離を 生む。

Excessively sublime ideals create a gap with reality.

Amari ni + na-adjective.

Collocations courantes

あまり食べない
あまり良くない
あまり好きじゃない
あまり行かない
あまり高くない
あまり忙しくない
あまり面白くない
あまり遠くない
あまり寒くない
あまり関係ない

Phrases Courantes

あまり気にしないで

あまり無理しないで

あまりにも...

あまり見かけない

あまり変わりない

あまり期待しない

あまり興味がない

あまり時間がない

あまり自信がない

あまり使わない

Souvent confondu avec

あまり vs 全然 (zenzen)

Zenzen is 0%, Amari is 20-30%.

あまり vs とても (totemo)

Totemo is for positive 'very', Amari is for negative 'not very'.

あまり vs 少し (sukoshi)

Sukoshi means 'a little' (positive), Amari means 'not much' (negative).

Expressions idiomatiques

"余り物には福がある"

There is luck in leftovers. Good things come to those who wait or take what's left.

最後に残ったけど、余り物には福があると言うしね。

Proverb

"あんまりだ"

This is too much! / This is cruel! Used to express outrage at unfair treatment.

そんな言い方、あんまりだ！

Informal/Emotional

"身の余る光栄"

An honor greater than one deserves. Used in very formal humble speech.

このような賞をいただき、身の余る光栄です。

Very Formal

"手に余る"

Beyond one's control or ability. Too much to handle.

この仕事は私の手に余る。

Neutral

"目に余る"

To be too much to look at; to be intolerable or scandalous.

彼の態度は目に余る。

Neutral

"言葉の余り"

The nuance or meaning left unsaid; the resonance of words.

彼の言葉の余りを感じる。

Literary

"力余って"

With more strength than necessary; overdoing it physically.

力余ってドアを壊してしまった。

Neutral

"余りある"

To be more than enough; to be abundant.

彼の才能は余りある。

Formal

"余りにもひどい"

Simply too terrible. Used to emphasize a bad situation.

あまりにもひどい結果だ。

Neutral

"余りが出ないように"

So that there are no leftovers or remainders.

余りが出ないように分けてください。

Neutral

Facile à confondre

あまり vs あまりに (amari ni)

Looks the same but means 'too much'.

Amari ni is used with positive/neutral endings, amari with negative.

あまりに高い (Too expensive) vs あまり高くない (Not very expensive).

あまり vs 余り (amari - noun)

Same reading and kanji.

The noun means 'leftovers' or 'remainder'.

10割る3の余り (Remainder of 10 divided by 3).

あまり vs あんまり (anmari)

Slightly different sound.

It's just the casual version of amari.

あんまり食べない (Casual).

あまり vs あまり...ない vs ほとんど...ない

Both mean 'not much'.

Hotondo...nai means 'almost never/hardly' (lower frequency than amari).

ほとんど食べない (Hardly eat anything).

あまり vs あまり...ない vs あまり...すぎる

Both use amari.

Sugiru means 'to exceed'.

あまりに食べすぎる (Eat way too much).

Structures de phrases

A1

あまり + Verb-masen

あまり飲みません。

A1

あまり + Adj-kunai desu

あまり暑くないです。

A2

あまり + Na-Adj + ja arimasen

あまり有名じゃありません。

A2

あまり + Verb-te imasen

あまり勉強していません。

B1

あまりに + Adj

あまりに高いです。

B1

Noun + no + amari

驚きのあまり。

B2

あまりの + Noun + ni

あまりの暑さに。

C1

あまり + Verb-u + koto wa nai

あまり行くことはない。

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation and media.

Erreurs courantes
  • Amari oishii desu. → Totemo oishii desu.

    You cannot use 'amari' with a positive adjective to mean 'very.' Use 'totemo' instead.

  • Amari samui ja nai. → Amari samukunai.

    I-adjectives like 'samui' must be conjugated to '~kunai,' not '~ja nai.'

  • Amari tabemasu. → Amari tabemasen.

    'Amari' requires a negative verb ending when used to mean 'not much.'

  • Zenzen suki ja nai (when you mean 'not much'). → Amari suki ja nai.

    'Zenzen' means 'not at all.' If you like it a little, use 'amari.'

  • Amari ni samukunai. → Amari samukunai.

    'Amari ni' is for positive extremes. For 'not very,' just use 'amari.'

Astuces

The 'Nai' Rule

Always check for a negative ending when using 'amari' to mean 'not very.' This is the most common mistake for beginners.

Softening Blows

Use 'amari' when you want to say you don't like something. It sounds much kinder than saying 'kirai' (hate).

Casual Flow

Try saying 'anmari' in casual conversations. It makes your Japanese sound more fluid and less like a textbook.

Context Clues

If you hear 'amari' without a negative, listen for 'ni' (amari ni). It means the speaker is about to describe something extreme.

Kanji vs Kana

Stick to hiragana (あまり) for the adverb. Use kanji (余り) only when you mean 'remainder' or 'leftovers.'

Degree Scale

Remember: Zenzen (0%) < Amari (20%) < Sukoshi (40%) < Tokidoki (50%) < Yoku (80%) < Totemo (100%).

Reading the Air

In Japan, 'Amari...' followed by a trailing off sentence often means 'No, thank you' or 'I'd rather not.'

Daily Check

Look at things around you and describe them using 'amari ... nai.' (e.g., 'This coffee isn't very hot').

Amari vs Sorehodo

Use 'sorehodo' when you are specifically saying 'not as much as you said' or 'not that much.'

The 'No Amari' Pattern

Once you're comfortable, try 'Ureshisa no amari' (Out of joy) to express strong emotions.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Amari' as 'A Mary.' Mary is a very modest person, so she 'doesn't do much' or 'isn't very' loud.

Association visuelle

Imagine a plate with just a few crumbs left. Those are the 'amari' (leftovers). If you only have crumbs, you don't have 'much' food.

Word Web

余る (remain) 余り (leftover) あまり...ない (not much) あまりに (too much) 余裕 (room) 余計 (extra) 余白 (margin) 余分 (surplus)

Défi

Try to use 'amari' three times today: once for a food you don't like much, once for a hobby you don't do much, and once for the weather.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old Japanese verb 'amaru' (余る), which means 'to remain' or 'to be left over.'

Sens originel : The state of being a surplus or a remainder after a division or a process.

Japonic.

Contexte culturel

Be careful not to use 'amari' when you actually mean 'zenzen' (not at all). If someone asks if you have an allergy, saying 'amari' might imply you can have a little, which could be dangerous.

English speakers often use 'not really' or 'not particularly' in the same way Japanese speakers use 'amari.'

The song 'Amari' by J. Cole (though unrelated to the Japanese word, it's a common search result). The concept of 'Yohaku no bi' (the beauty of empty space) relates to the 'amari' (remainder/space). Japanese math textbooks use 'amari' for division remainders.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Eating/Drinking

  • あまり食べません
  • あまり飲みません
  • あまり好きじゃない
  • あまり辛くない

Weather

  • あまり暑くない
  • あまり寒くない
  • あまり降っていない
  • あまり良くない

Abilities

  • あまり上手じゃない
  • あまり得意じゃない
  • あまりわからない
  • あまり話せない

Frequency

  • あまり行かない
  • あまり見ない
  • あまり会わない
  • あまりしない

Shopping

  • あまり高くない
  • あまり安くない
  • あまり欲しくない
  • あまり良くない

Amorces de conversation

"日本料理はあまり辛くないですよね？ (Japanese food isn't very spicy, right?)"

"最近、あまり忙しくないですか？ (Haven't you been very busy lately?)"

"この辺りはあまり静かじゃありませんね。 (It's not very quiet around here, is it?)"

"あまりお酒は飲みませんか？ (Don't you drink alcohol much?)"

"昨日のテレビはあまり面白くなかったですね。 (Yesterday's TV wasn't very interesting, was it?)"

Sujets d'écriture

最近あまりしていないことは何ですか？ (What is something you haven't done much lately?)

あまり好きではない食べ物について書いてください。 (Write about a food you don't like very much.)

子供の時、あまり得意ではなかった科目は何ですか？ (What subject were you not very good at as a child?)

あまり遠くない場所で行きたいところはどこですか？ (Where is a place not very far away that you want to go?)

最近あまり寝ていない理由は何ですか？ (What is the reason you haven't been sleeping much lately?)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, but it must be negative: 'Amari suki ja nai' (I don't like it much). Using 'Amari suki desu' is grammatically incorrect.

'Anmari' is a more casual, spoken version of 'amari.' You use 'amari' in polite situations and 'anmari' with friends or family.

When it means 'not much' or 'not very,' yes. If you use it to mean 'too much' (amari ni), it is used with positive verbs or adjectives.

Yes, it is very polite because it softens negative statements, making them sound less harsh than a direct 'no' or 'not at all.'

Yes, but in that case, it is a noun and usually written with the kanji '余り.' For example, 'Gohan no amari' (leftover rice).

You say 'Amari atsukunai desu.' You must change 'atsui' to its negative form 'atsukunai.'

Yes, it is a key word for the JLPT N5 and N4 levels, and its more advanced forms appear in N3, N2, and N1.

Yes, especially in its 'amari ni' form or when continuing a thought, e.g., 'Amari isogashikunai desu. Dakara...'

The opposite in terms of degree would be 'totemo' (very) or 'takusan' (a lot).

Yes, 'Amari wakarimasen' means 'I don't understand much,' which is a common and polite way to say your Japanese isn't perfect.

Teste-toi 191 questions

writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't eat much meat.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'It's not very hot today.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't understand Japanese very well.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'This room is not very quiet.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I didn't watch TV much yesterday.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'He is not very kind.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't like sports much.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'It's not very far from the station.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't have much money.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'The test wasn't very difficult.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Write a sentence using 'amari' and 'isogashii' in the negative.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Write a sentence using 'amari' and 'nomu' in the negative.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Write a sentence using 'amari' and 'kirei' in the negative.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Write a sentence using 'amari' and 'omoshiroi' in the negative.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Write a sentence using 'amari' and 'samui' in the negative.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't go to the library much.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'This coffee is not very delicious.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't use this bag much.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'It wasn't very busy yesterday.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I don't know him very well.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't drink much coffee' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It's not very hot today' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I'm not very busy' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't like fish much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't understand much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'The test wasn't very hard' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't watch TV much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It's not very far' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't have much time' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'Don't worry too much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't go there much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It's not very quiet' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't eat much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I'm not very good at it' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It wasn't very interesting' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't speak Japanese much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It's not very expensive' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't sleep much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'It's not very clean' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking

Say 'I don't use it much' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり食べません。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり暑くないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまりわかりません。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり忙しくないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり好きじゃないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり遠くないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり時間がありません。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり難しくなかったです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり飲みません。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり見ません。' What does it mean?

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Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまりきれいじゃありません。' What does it mean?

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Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまりおもしろくないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり高くないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり寒くないです。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'あまり上手じゃありません。' What does it mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

/ 191 correct

Perfect score!

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