JLPT N4 Grammar: あまり～ない (amari~nai) Meaning - JLPT Sensei

Learn Japanese grammar: あまり～ない (amari~nai). Meaning: not very, not much ~.

This is used in combination with the negative form of an adjective or verb to describe something that you don’t really do. ない can be conjugated normally into the more polite negative ません or past forms as well.

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あまり～ない - Example Sentences 例文

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

私はあまり運動しない。

hint romaji Englishわたしはあまりうんどうしない。watashi wa amari undou shinai.I don't really exercise.

Example #2

日本語があまり分からない。

hint romaji Englishにほんごがあまりわからない。nihongo ga amari wakaranai.I don't really understand Japanese.

Example #3

ホラー映画はあまり見ない。

hint romaji Englishホラーえいがはあまりみない。horaa eiga wa amari minaiI don't really watch horror movies.

Example #4

彼はあまり速く走ることができない。

hint romaji Englishかれはあまりはやくはしることができない。kare wa amari hayaku hashiru koto ga dekinai.He can't run very fast.

Example #5

この文法があまり分かりません。教えてください。

hint romaji Englishこのぶんぽがあまりわかりません。おしえてください。kono bunpo ga amari wakarimasen. Oshiete kudasai.I don't understand this grammar very well, could you please explain it to me?

Example #6

この食べ物はあまり美味しくなかった。

hint romaji Englishこのたべものはあまりおいしくなかった。kono tabemono wa amari oishi kunakatta.The food wasn't that great.

Example #7

私はあまりテニスが上手ではない。

hint romaji Englishわたしはあまりテニスがじょうずではない。watashi wa amari tenisu ga jouzu dewa nai.I'm not very good at tennis.

Example #8

冷たい飲み物があまり好きじゃありません。

hint romaji Englishつめたいのみものがあまりすきじゃありません。tsumetai nomimono ga amari suki jaarimasen.I don't really like cold beverages.

Example #9

最近は忙しくて、友だちとあまり遊んでいません。

hint romaji Englishさいきんはいそがしくて、ともだちとあまりあそんでいません。saikin wa isogashikute, tomodachi to amari asonde imasen.I've been so busy lately that I've hardly seen my friends.

Related JLPT Grammar

• JLPT N5 Grammar: じゃない・ではない (janai / dewa nai) Meaningto not be (am not; is not; are not)
• JLPT N5 Grammar: ないで (naide) Meaningwithout doing ~; to do [B] without doing [A]
• JLPT N4 Grammar: はずがない (hazu ga nai) Meaningcannot be (impossible)
• JLPT N3 Grammar: とても～ない (totemo~nai) Meaningcannot possibly be; hardly ~
• JLPT N3 Grammar: あまり (amari) Meaningso much… that
• JLPT N3 Grammar: 別に～ない (betsu ni~nai) Meaningnot really, not particularly

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