Not very A; doesn't do A very much (only a little)
Shows a very small degree/amount of a noun, adjective, or action.
この音楽はあまり好きじゃない。
I don't really like this music.
21
このラーメンはあまりおいしくないね…。
This ramen isn't very delicious..
9
私はあまり外食をしません。
I don't really eat out.
5
この商品は、あまり評判がよくないですよ。
The reputation on this product is not very good.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
あまり行きたくない (don't really want to go)
Basic Examples:
あまり高くない (not very expensive)
Basic Examples:
あまり上手じゃない (not very skillful)
Basic Examples:
あまり味がない (not much taste)
Where this grammar is found
User notes
looh
Level: 16
(13 years ago)
あまり and ぜんぜん are almost interchangeable, where ぜんぜん carries more of the nuance of "not at all."
5
宮本勝利
Level: 1
(14 years ago)
As an addendum to the above note, あんまり is only used in spoken Japanese, never written.
12
fareastfurfaro
Level: 1
(14 years ago)
あんまり is also a perfectly usable substitute. However, it tends to be more common in spoken Japanese.
12
Discussion about this grammar
