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This topic is tied to the below grammar expression in the grammar library.
少しも~ない
1. Not (even a little) A
This expression emphasizes the negative condition A. Not quite as forceful as まったく~ない.
                
The laundry doesn't dry at all in the winter.
Top > 日本語を勉強しましょう / Let's study Japanese! > Anything About Japanese > Grammar Library Talk



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mysticfive
Level: 1599
this can also be used with (countable) nouns - しもおがない for example
3
13 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 261
Got it!
0
13 years ago
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Level: 1
When も changes to か, the meaning of the pattern becomes the contrary:

しもせません。 I can't speak Japanese at all.
しかせません。 I can speak a little bit of Japanese.

Dunno, maybe it would make sense to make another grammar entry for that...
2
13 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 261
Are you sure you're not mixing it up with the particle しか?
1
13 years ago
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Level: 1
Now that you mention it, I finally understood!
I've forgot a し above. This is what I wanted to write:

ししかせません。 I can speak a little bit of Japanese.

And yes, that's the particle しか, you're right about that.
3
13 years ago
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JennaOkazaki
Level: 1
What's the difference between しも~ない and まったく~ない?
0
9 years ago
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AJ808
Level: 12

This might be a bit late, and may not be completely correct, but I think the major difference is the tone. まったく generally has a negative tone, and is more of "at all" while すこしも seems to be a bit less negative. The majority of the examples use "a little bit" in the translation and can also be used in a positive sense. The third example uses it in a positive way, while I've never heard まったく in any way except negative.

1
8 years ago
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mysticfive
Level: 1599
What's the difference between しも~ない and まったく~ない?

While they both mean "not at all," しも~ない is more polite than using まったく, and the latter almost has a sense of hopelessness - like if you said はまったくしません, it has a feeling of "I don't speak any Japanese at all (so there's no use trying), whereas しも is more neutral and doesn't have that nuance.

5
8 years ago
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Getting the posts




Top > 日本語を勉強しましょう / Let's study Japanese! > Anything About Japanese > Grammar Library Talk


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