Not Very / Not Much (amari~nai)
あまり with a negative ending to say something is 'not very' or 'not much'.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {余り|あまり} + negative verb/adjective to mean 'not very' or 'not much'.
- Always pair {余り|あまり} with a negative ending (e.g., ~ない).
- It modifies the intensity of the following negative state.
- It can be used for both adjectives and verbs.
Overview
When communicating in Japanese, you will frequently need to express mild or attenuated negatives. A direct "no" or "not X" can often sound too abrupt or be factually inaccurate. This is where the grammar pattern あまり～ない (amari~nai) becomes essential.
It allows you to soften a negative statement, conveying nuances such as "not very," "not much," "not really," or "hardly ever." Mastery of あまり～ない is fundamental for engaging in polite and natural Japanese conversations, particularly when offering feedback, declining invitations, or expressing preferences with tact.
あまり～ない functions by placing the adverb あまり (amari) before a verb, i-adjective, or na-adjective that has been conjugated into its negative form. While あまり inherently means "not very" or "not much," it must be used in conjunction with a negative predicate. Using あまり with a positive form is a common grammatical error.
This pattern is broadly applicable, from describing sensory experiences like the taste of food to commenting on one's abilities or the frequency of actions.
How This Grammar Works
あまり～ない stems from the interaction between the adverb あまり and the negative conjugation of the predicate. あまり is classified as a negative polarity item (NPI) in linguistics. This means it inherently requires a negative element, such as ない (nai), ません (masen), or じゃない (janai), to complete its meaning.あまり typically loses its attenuating function and renders the sentence ungrammatical in contexts expressing degree.あまり as a dimmer switch for negative statements. Instead of a complete negation, which would be like turning a light entirely off, あまり dims the intensity of the negative, making it "not entirely off" or "partially off." For instance, 面白くない (omoshirokunai) means "it is not interesting," a definitive negative. Conversely, あまり面白くない (amari omoshirokunai) softens this to "it is not very interesting," suggesting there might be some interesting aspects, but insufficient to be truly engaging.和|wa). Direct criticism or overtly strong negative statements can often be perceived as impolite or confrontational. あまり～ない provides a linguistic mechanism to express reservations, mild disappointment, or a lack of strong enthusiasm in a gentler, more considerate manner.好きじゃない (suki janai, "I don't like it") and あまり好きじゃない (amari suki janai, "I don't really like it"). The latter is significantly less absolute, leaving room for further dialogue or compromise. The nuance conveyed by あまり demonstrates a higher level of fluency and cultural awareness, signaling that you are not simply negating something outright, but rather quantifying the extent of that negation.Formation Pattern
あまり～ない, you conjugate the main verb, i-adjective, or na-adjective into its appropriate negative form and then place あまり directly before it. The consistent placement of あまり immediately preceding the negative predicate it modifies is key to correct usage. The following sections detail this formation for each predicate type:
～ない form or the polite negative ～ません form. あまり modifies the verb's negation, indicating a lack of frequent action, quantity, or degree.
あまり + Verb (ない form)
最近、忙しくて、あまり本を読まない。 (Saikin, isogashikute, amari hon o yomanai.) - "Lately, I'm busy, so I don't read books much."
今日は疲れているから、あまり出かけたくない。 (Kyō wa tsukareteiru kara, amari dekaketaku nai.) - "I'm tired today, so I don't really want to go out."
あまり + Verb (ません form)
この問題は、あまり分かりません。 (Kono mondai wa, amari wakarimasen.) - "I don't really understand this problem."
私はコーヒーをあまり飲みません。 (Watashi wa kōhī o amari nomimasen.) - "I don't drink coffee much."
ない form) | Polite Negative (ません form) | Past Casual Negative (なかった form) | Past Polite Negative (ませんでした form) |
飲む | 飲まない | 飲みません | 飲まなかった | 飲みませんでした |
行く | 行かない | 行きません | 行かなかった | 行きませんでした |
食べる | 食べない | 食べません | 食べなかった | 食べませんでした |
見る | 見ない | 見ません | 見なかった | 見ませんでした |
する | しない | しません | しなかった | しませんでした |
来る | 来ない | 来ません | 来なかった | 来ませんでした |
い (i) and append くない (kunai). あまり then precedes this negative i-adjective form.
あまり + i-Adjective (drop い, add くない)
この鞄はあまり高くない。 (Kono kaban wa amari takakunai.) - "This bag is not very expensive."
今日はあまり寒くないですね。 (Kyō wa amari samukunai desu ne.) - "It's not very cold today, is it?"
あまり + i-Adjective (drop い, add くないです)
その映画はあまり面白くないです。 (Sono eiga wa amari omoshirokunai desu.) - "That movie is not very interesting."
いい (ii, good): The negative form of いい is よくない (yokunai), not いくない. This is a critical exception to commit to memory.
彼の意見はあまり良くない。 (Kare no iken wa amari yokunai.) - "His opinion is not very good."
高い | 高くない | 高くないです | 高くなかった | 高くなかったです |
美味しい | 美味しくない | 美味しくないです | 美味しくなかった | 美味しくなかったです |
寒い | 寒くない | 寒くないです | 寒くなかった | 寒くなかったです |
いい | よくない | よくないです | よくなかった | よくなかったです |
じゃない (janai) for casual negative forms or じゃありません (ja arimasen) (or the more formal ではありません (dewa arimasen)) for polite negative forms. あまり precedes this entire negative phrase.
あまり + na-Adjective/Noun + じゃない
この町はあまり静かじゃない。 (Kono machi wa amari shizuka janai.) - "This town is not very quiet."
私はあまり器用じゃない。 (Watashi wa amari kiyō janai.) - "I'm not very skillful."
あまり + na-Adjective/Noun + じゃありません (or ではありません)
今日はあまり元気じゃありません。 (Kyō wa amari genki ja arimasen.) - "I'm not feeling very well today."
あのレストランはあまり有名な場所じゃありません。 (Ano resutoran wa amari yūmei na basho ja arimasen.) - "That restaurant is not a very famous place."
静かだ | 静かじゃない | 静かじゃありません | 静かじゃなかった | 静かじゃありませんでした |
元気だ | 元気じゃない | 元気じゃありません | 元気じゃなかった | 元気じゃありませんでした |
学生だ | 学生じゃない | 学生じゃありません | 学生じゃなかった | 学生じゃありませんでした |
あまり
あまり typically appears immediately before the negative predicate it modifies, it can occasionally be placed at the beginning of a sentence, especially for emphasis. However, its fundamental role remains to attenuate the subsequent negative expression. For A2 learners, consistently placing あまり directly before the negative form is the most reliable and common approach.
この映画はあまり面白くなかったです。 (Kono eiga wa amari omoshirokunakatta desu.) - "This movie was not very interesting."
あまり時間がありません。 (Amari jikan ga arimasen.) - "I don't have much time."
When To Use It
あまり～ない is a versatile and frequently employed Japanese expression that extends beyond simple negation. Its primary function is to introduce a degree of attenuation to negative assertions, rendering them less absolute and more socially acceptable. Understanding precisely when to employ this pattern is crucial for developing natural and polite Japanese communication habits.あまり～ない. Instead of directly stating something is bad or unlikable, which can be blunt in Japanese culture, you can use あまり～ない to express mild disapproval, a lack of enthusiasm, or a reserved opinion. This aligns with the cultural preference for indirect communication.このレストランの料理はあまり美味しくなかったです。(Kono resutoran no ryōri wa amari oishikunakatta desu.) - "The food at this restaurant was not very tasty." (This is a much softer statement thanまずかったです[it was bad].)彼のプレゼンテーションはあまり良くなかった。(Kare no purezentēshon wa amari yokunakatta.) - "His presentation was not very good." (A gentle critique, avoiding harshness.)
あまり～ない is the appropriate choice. This applies to both quantifiable items and the frequency of events or actions.最近、あまり運動しないので、体が鈍っています。(Saikin, amari undō shinai node, karada ga namatte imasu.) - "Lately, I don't exercise much, so my body is out of shape."パーティーにはあまり人がいませんでした。(Pātī ni wa amari hito ga imasen deshita.) - "There weren't many people at the party." (Implying some people were there, but fewer than expected or desired.)
あまり～ない can effectively communicate this state of weak conviction or incomplete understanding. It indicates that your comprehension is not zero, but it is not robust either.その映画の内容はあまり分かりませんでした。(Sono eiga no naiyō wa amari wakarimasen deshita.) - "I didn't really understand the content of that movie." (Rather than admitting to a complete lack of understanding.)私は歴史にあまり興味がない。(Watashi wa rekishi ni amari kyōmi ga nai.) - "I don't have much interest in history." (A mild disinterest, not an outright aversion.)
あまり～ない can soften the refusal, making it sound less abrupt, demanding, or confrontational. This allows you to maintain social harmony while still conveying your message.ごめんなさい、今日はあまり時間がありません。(Gomen nasai, kyō wa amari jikan ga arimasen.) - "I'm sorry, I don't have much time today." (A gentle excuse compared to a direct "I don't have time.")私はお酒をあまり飲みません。(Watashi wa osake o amari nomimasen.) - "I don't drink alcohol much." (A polite way to decline a drink at a social gathering.)
あまり～ない into your Japanese, you can communicate with greater precision and adapt effectively to the social dynamics inherent in Japanese conversation. It is an indispensable tool for A2 learners aiming for more natural and respectful interactions.Common Mistakes
あまり～ない is frequently a source of specific errors for learners. Recognizing these common pitfalls and understanding the grammatical principles behind them will significantly enhance your accuracy and naturalness in Japanese.あまり with Positive Formsあまり is an NPI (Negative Polarity Item); it demands a negative predicate to function as "not very" or "not much." Using it with a positive verb or adjective is grammatically incorrect in this context, as あまり serves to attenuate a negation, not to intensify a positive or negate it indirectly.- Incorrect:
あまり美味しいです。(Amari oishii desu.) (Intended: "It's not very tasty.") - Explanation: This is incorrect because
美味しいis a positive form. If a Japanese speaker heardあまり美味しいです, they might interpretあまりas "excessively" (a less common meaning, usuallyあまりにorあまりにも) or simply find the phrase ungrammatical. To express a strong positive, you would use intensifiers likeとても(totemo) orすごく(sugoku). - Correct:
あまり美味しくないです。(Amari oishikunai desu.) - "It's not very tasty."
～ない ending directly to an i-adjective.- Incorrect:
あまり寒いない。(Amari samuinai.) (Intended: "It's not very cold.") - Explanation: i-adjectives follow a specific conjugation pattern: drop the final
いand addくない. Applying～ないdirectly is a common overgeneralization from verb conjugations. - Correct:
あまり寒くない。(Amari samukunai.) - "It's not very cold."
いい (ii, good), which is よくない (yokunai), not いくない.- Incorrect:
この企画はあまり良くない。(Kono kikaku wa amari ikunai.) (Intended: "This plan isn't very good.") - Correct:
この企画はあまり良くない。(Kono kikaku wa amari yokunai.) - "This plan isn't very good."
あまり～ない with ぜんぜん～ない (zenzen~nai)あまり～ないmeans "not very" or "not much," implying a partial, mild, or low-degree negation. It suggests some degree of the attribute or action exists, but not to a significant extent.ぜんぜん～ないmeans "not at all" or "absolutely not," indicating a complete and total negation. It implies zero degree of the attribute or absolutely no occurrence of the action.
あまり～ない | Not very, not much, not really, hardly ever | Partial/Mild | この本はあまり面白くない。 (Kono hon wa amari omoshirokunai.) - "This book isn't very interesting." | It has some interesting parts, but not enough to be truly engaging. |ぜんぜん～ない | Not at all, absolutely not | Total/Absolute | この本はぜんぜん面白くない。 (Kono hon wa zenzen omoshirokunai.) - "This book isn't interesting at all." | It has no interesting parts whatsoever; it is completely uninteresting. |ぜんぜん～ない. If there is a small degree, but not much, use あまり～ない. Selecting the correct intensifier depends on the absolute nature of your negative statement.あまりあまり can sometimes initiate a sentence for emphasis, its core grammatical function is to modify the negative predicate that immediately follows it. Placing it too far away from the negative word, or in a position where it modifies a different part of the sentence, can lead to ambiguity or awkward phrasing.- Less Natural:
私は昨日、友達とあまり話しませんでした。(Watashi wa kinō, tomodachi to amari hanashimasen deshita.) (While comprehensible, the structure is slightly less fluid). - More Natural:
私は昨日、友達とあまり話しませんでした。(Watashi wa kinō, tomodachi to amari hanashimasen deshita.) - "I didn't talk much with my friend yesterday." (The most natural placement is directly before the negative verb話しませんでした).
あまり～ない in your Japanese communication.Common Collocations
あまり with negative forms of common verbs and adjectives are used so frequently in Japanese that they operate almost as fixed expressions. Integrating these collocations into your active vocabulary will significantly enhance your naturalness and comprehension speed. These are not merely grammatical constructions, but established units of thought commonly employed by native speakers.あまり良くない(amari yokunai): Not very good- This is the quintessential phrase for conveying polite, mild disapproval. It is often preferred when you wish to avoid outright stating something is
悪い(warui, bad) or良くない(strongly not good). - Example:
彼の日本語はまだあまり良くないから、もっと勉強が必要だ。(Kare no Nihongo wa mada amari yokunai kara, motto benkyō ga hitsuyō da.) - "His Japanese is still not very good, so he needs to study more."
あまり美味しくない(amari oishikunai): Not very tasty- An essential expression for discreetly commenting on food that does not meet expectations. It is significantly more polite than
まずい(mazui, awful or disgusting). - Example:
このラーメンはあまり美味しくないね。次は別の店に行こう。(Kono rāmen wa amari oishikunai ne. Tsugi wa betsu no mise ni ikō.) - "This ramen isn't very tasty, is it? Let's go to a different shop next time."
あまり好きじゃない(amari suki janai): Don't really like it- A fundamental phrase for expressing personal preferences or dislikes. It is crucial when you need to state a lack of fondness without being offensive or absolute.
- Example:
私は辛い物があまり好きじゃないので、甘いのが欲しいです。(Watashi wa karai mono ga amari suki janai node, amai no ga hoshii desu.) - "I don't really like spicy food, so I want something sweet."
あまり分からない(amari wakaranai): Don't really understand- A candid and frequently used admission of partial comprehension. This phrase acknowledges some level of understanding but indicates that further clarity or explanation is required.
- Example:
先生の説明はあまり分からなかったので、もう一度お願いします。(Sensei no setsumei wa amari wakaranakatta node, mō ichido onegai shimasu.) - "I didn't really understand the teacher's explanation, so please (explain it) one more time."
あまり忙しくない(amari isogashikunai): Not very busy- Useful for describing one's schedule or current workload. It implies you have some available time, even if you still have tasks to complete.
- Example:
今週はあまり忙しくないから、会えるよ。(Konshū wa amari isogashikunai kara, aeru yo.) - "I'm not very busy this week, so we can meet."
あまり遠くない(amari tōkunai): Not very far- Handy for describing distances. This implies a manageable distance – perhaps not a short walk, but certainly not a long or inconvenient journey.
- Example:
駅からあまり遠くない場所に、新しいカフェができた。(Eki kara amari tōkunai basho ni, atarashii kafe ga dekita.) - "A new cafe opened in a place not very far from the station."
あまり行かない/見|みない/勉強|べんきょうしない (amari ikanai/minai/benkyō shinai`): Don't go/see/study much/often- These verb constructions are used to highlight a lack of frequency or regularity in a particular action. They are common in daily conversation and personal reflections.
- Example:
最近、映画をあまり見ない。(Saikin, eiga o amari minai.) - "Lately, I don't watch movies much."
Quick FAQ
あまり～ない, aiming to solidify your understanding and resolve any lingering ambiguities you may have.あまり be used by itself, without a negative predicate?Generally, no, not when it means "not very" or "not much." As a negative polarity item, あまり requires a negative form to complete this specific meaning. However, in highly informal and context-dependent conversational situations, you might hear a speaker trail off with あまり... (amari...) in response to a direct question. This implicitly conveys "not really" or "not so much" by leaving the negative predicate unsaid, but it relies heavily on shared context and is an abbreviated usage, not its full grammatical function.
- Example:
「このラーメンは辛いですか？」("Kono rāmen wa karai desu ka?") - "Is this ramen spicy?"「うーん、あまり…」("Ūn, amari...") - "Hmm, not really..." (implyingあまり辛くないです- "It's not very spicy.")
あまり (amari) and あんまり (anmari)?あんまり is essentially a more casual, colloquial, and often phonetically shortened variant of あまり. There is no significant distinction in their core meaning or grammatical function. あまり is the standard form universally used in formal writing, general conversation, and polite speech. あんまり is more prevalent in informal spoken Japanese, particularly among close friends, family, or in relaxed social settings.
今日のテストはあまり難しくなかった。(Kyō no tesuto wa amari muzukashikunakatta.) - "Today's test wasn't very difficult." (Standard/General)今日のテストはあんまり難しくなかった。(Kyō no tesuto wa anmari muzukashikunakatta.) - "Today's test wasn't very difficult." (Casual/Spoken)
あまり is the safer choice. In casual conversations, あんまり is perfectly natural and widely used.あまり～ない only apply to negative attributes or actions (e.g., "not good," "not like")? Can it be used for things that are conventionally positive?No, あまり～ない is not restricted to things perceived as "bad." Its function is to express a low degree or quantity of whatever is being negated, regardless of its conventional positive or negative connotation. Therefore, you can certainly use it for concepts that might be positive in other contexts but are simply not present to a high degree in the current situation.
今日はあまり暑くないので、散歩しましょう。(Kyō wa amari atsukunai node, sanpo shimashō.) - "It's not very hot today, so let's take a walk." (Here, "not hot" is a positive condition for someone who dislikes heat.)このカフェはあまり混んでいないから、ゆっくり話せるね。(Kono kafe wa amari konde inai kara, yukkuri hanaseru ne.) - "This cafe isn't very crowded, so we can talk slowly, can't we?" (Being "not crowded" is typically a positive attribute for a cafe.)
あまり go in a sentence?あまり generally precedes the negative verb or adjective it modifies. This is its most common and natural position. While it can sometimes be placed at the very beginning of a sentence, this is typically for emphasis or conciseness, and its modifying relationship still primarily points to the negative predicate later in the sentence.
私は運動をあまりしない。(Watashi wa undō o amari shinai.) - "I don't exercise much." (Natural placement)あまり時間がありません。(Amari jikan ga arimasen.) - "I don't have much time." (Sentence-initial, often for a direct statement of limitation.)
あまり～ない with confidence and precision in your Japanese communication, allowing you to express subtle shades of meaning effectively.2. Formation with Negative Predicates
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
i-Adjective
|
あまり + [Stem] + くない
|
あまり寒くない
|
|
na-Adjective
|
あまり + [na-Adj] + じゃありません
|
あまり綺麗じゃありません
|
|
Verb
|
あまり + [Verb Negative]
|
あまり食べません
|
|
Noun (with particle)
|
あまり + [Noun] + がありません
|
あまり時間がありません
|
|
Past i-Adj
|
あまり + [Stem] + くなかった
|
あまり面白くなかった
|
|
Past Verb
|
あまり + [Verb Negative Past]
|
あまり行きませんでした
|
Meanings
Used to soften a negative statement, indicating that something is not particularly the case or not happening to a high degree.
Degree softening
Not very / not particularly
“{余り|あまり}{好き|すき}じゃありません。”
“{余り|あまり}{時間|じかん}がありません。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
N/A
|
Not applicable
|
|
Negative (Polite)
|
あまり + Verb/Adj + ません
|
あまり行きません
|
|
Negative (Casual)
|
あまり + Verb/Adj + ない
|
あまり行かない
|
|
Past Negative
|
あまり + Verb/Adj + なかった
|
あまり行かなかった
|
|
Short Answer
|
あまり...
|
あまり...
|
|
Question
|
あまり + Verb/Adj + ですか？
|
あまり好きですか？
|
Formality Spectrum
あまり好きではありません。 (Expressing preference)
あまり好きじゃありません。 (Expressing preference)
あまり好きじゃない。 (Expressing preference)
あんまり好きじゃない。 (Expressing preference)
Amari Usage Map
Function
- Softener Makes negatives polite
Requirement
- Negative Must end in ~nai
Examples by Level
{余り|あまり}{好き|すき}じゃありません。
I don't really like it.
{余り|あまり}{時間|じかん}がありません。
I don't have much time.
{余り|あまり}{遠く|とおく}ないです。
It's not very far.
{余り|あまり}{食べ|たべ}ません。
I don't eat much.
この本は{余り|あまり}{面白く|おもしろく}なかったです。
This book wasn't very interesting.
{余り|あまり}{人|ひと}がいませんね。
There aren't many people here, are there?
{余り|あまり}{無理|むり}をしないでください。
Please don't overdo it.
{余り|あまり}{元気|げんき}じゃありません。
I'm not feeling very well.
{余り|あまり}{期待|きたい}していませんでした。
I wasn't really expecting much.
{余り|あまり}{自信|じしん}がありません。
I don't have much confidence.
{余り|あまり}{知ら|しら}れていない場所です。
It's a place that isn't very well known.
{余り|あまり}{気|き}にしないでください。
Please don't worry about it too much.
{余り|あまり}{効果|こうか}がみられません。
Not much effect can be seen.
{余り|あまり}{深刻|しんこく}に考えないでください。
Please don't think about it too seriously.
{余り|あまり}{変化|へんか}はありませんでした。
There wasn't much change.
{余り|あまり}{関心|かんしん}がありません。
I don't have much interest.
{余り|あまり}{好ましい|このましい}結果ではありません。
It is not a very desirable result.
{余り|あまり}{重要|じゅうよう}なことではありません。
It is not a matter of great importance.
{余り|あまり}{進歩|しんぽ}が感じられません。
Not much progress can be felt.
{余り|あまり}{納得|なっとく}がいきません。
I'm not really convinced.
{余り|あまり}{語ら|かたら}れることのない歴史です。
It is a history that is not often spoken of.
{余り|あまり}{大げさ|おおげさ}に言いたくはありません。
I don't want to exaggerate too much.
{余り|あまり}{意味|いみ}をなさない議論です。
It is an argument that doesn't make much sense.
{余り|あまり}{心地|ここち}の良いものではありません。
It is not a very comfortable thing.
Easily Confused
Both take negative verbs.
Both use the word 'amari'.
Both mean 'not to that extent'.
Common Mistakes
あまり好きです
あまり好きじゃありません
あまり食べます
あまり食べません
あまりいいです
あまりよくないです
あまり行きます
あまり行きません
あまりとても好きじゃない
あまり好きじゃない
あまりないです
あまりありません
あまりに好きじゃない
あまり好きじゃない
あまりに高いです
あまり高くないです
あまり全然好きじゃない
あまり好きじゃない
あまり知っている
あまり知りません
あまりに興味がある
あまり興味がない
あまりにも行かない
あまり行かない
あまりに良い
あまり良くない
あまりに知らぬ
あまり知らぬ
Sentence Patterns
私は___があまり好きじゃありません。
今日はあまり___ありません。
その映画はあまり___でした。
あまり___と、疲れますよ。
Real World Usage
あんま好きじゃない笑
あまり経験がありません。
あまり辛くないのがいいです。
あまり面白くなかった。
あまり遠くないですか？
あまり効果がありません。
Softening
Affirmative
Casual
Harmony
Smart Tips
Use 'amari' to soften your refusal.
Use 'amari' to make criticism less harsh.
Use 'amari' to avoid being too blunt.
Use 'amari' to sound less dramatic.
Pronunciation
Casual contraction
In casual speech, 'amari' often becomes 'anmari'.
Softening
Amari (low) ... negative (falling)
Shows hesitation or politeness.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Amari' as 'A-mari-ly' (a marginally) not doing something.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. 'Zenzen' is at zero (empty). 'Amari' is at 20% (a little bit, but mostly empty).
Rhyme
Amari is a soft negative, it's not quite 'none', it's just 'not much' for everyone.
Story
Kenji asked if I liked natto. I didn't want to be rude, so I said 'Amari suki ja arimasen.' Kenji smiled because I was polite. I felt relieved.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things you don't really like using 'amari'.
Cultural Notes
Japanese culture values indirectness. Using 'amari' is a way to avoid saying a hard 'no'.
In Kansai, you might hear 'anmari' more frequently.
In business, 'amari' is used to soften negative feedback to clients.
Derived from the noun 'amari' (remainder/surplus).
Conversation Starters
辛い食べ物は好きですか？
最近、忙しいですか？
この映画、どうでしたか？
日本語の勉強は大変ですか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
私は納豆が___好きじゃありません。
Find and fix the mistake:
あまり好きです。
Which is correct?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I don't really like it.
Answer starts with: あまり...
A: 辛いですか？ B: ___
Use 'amari' and 'tsukareta'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises私は納豆が___好きじゃありません。
Find and fix the mistake:
あまり好きです。
Which is correct?
ありません / 時間 / が / あまり
I don't really like it.
A: 辛いですか？ B: ___
Use 'amari' and 'tsukareta'.
あまり + negative
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesSelect the correct sentence:
部屋 / あまり / 私の / きれい / は / じゃない
I don't play games much.
バスはあまり___じゃないです。
あまり{高|たか}いです。
Match the degree words:
Select the spoken casual form:
Yesterday wasn't very cold.
まだ日本語があまり___。
この / あまり / は / じゃない / 新鮮 / 寿司
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, it must be paired with a negative verb or adjective.
It is neutral and polite, suitable for most situations.
Amari is 'not very', while Zenzen is 'not at all'.
Yes, it is a great way to soften negative feedback.
You can use 'anmari' or just 'amari' with the casual negative form.
It is used with nouns that have a negative predicate, like 'time' or 'money'.
It helps maintain social harmony by avoiding directness.
It will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
no muy
Spanish word order is more flexible.
pas très
French requires specific negation markers like 'ne...pas'.
nicht sehr
German syntax is more rigid regarding verb placement.
amari
None.
laysa kathiran
Arabic uses a different root for negation.
bu tai
Chinese does not conjugate verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
[GENKI Lesson 5] Adjectives [Part 2] Past & Past Negative Conjugation
Shiro Neko Japanese
How to Conjugate Japanese Adjectives - い な adjectives conjugation - past, negative, etc.
Mei's Japanese Lesson
【SUPER GUIDE】Everything about い and な Adjective! Plain, Polite, Negative and Past
Mochi Real Japanese
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