Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 1: 12/22

中々(なかなか)～ない

Not really, Hardly, Not easily or readily, By no means, Far from

Structure

なかなか + Phrase + Verb［ない］

Details

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About なかなか～ない

When used positively, なかなか means to be 'very', or 'considerably' something. However, when used in a sentence that has a verb in the ない (or ありません) form, it carries the meaning of 'not at all', 'hardly', or 'far from'. Quite often, this expression is used to highlight something that the speaker expects should happen, but for some reason does/is not.
To use なかなか (or 中々(なかなか) in its kanji form), なかなか will be put at the beginning of a phrase (or directly before the negative verb), before further describing the situation.
  • 先生(せんせい)、風邪(かぜ)がなかなか治(なお)らないんですけど、どうした方(ほう)がいいですか？
    Doctor, my cold is hardly getting any better, what should I do?
  • 仕事(しごと)が忙(いそが)しくて中々(なかなか)休(やす)みが取(と)れないんだよね。
    Work is getting so busy that I can hardly take a day off.
Fun Fact
As 中々(なかなか) just means the 'middle' of something, this expression can be thought of as highlighting that something is not in the 'middle' (optimal place to achieve a certain result). Due to this, it often expresses that the speaker wants something to be in that 'optimal position' but feels frustration due to the fact that it isn't.
  • あいつなかなか来(こ)ないね。連絡(れんらく)もないし、俺(おれ)たちだけで行(い)こう。
    He is not coming at all. Since he hasn't contacted us, let's just go without him.

Examples

  • このシステムはなかなか改善(かいぜん)されない。

    This system is far from being improved.

  • 調査(ちょうさ)がなかなか進(すす)まない。

    The survey hardly makes any forward progress.

  • 貯金(ちょきん)がなかなかできない。

    I can hardly save any money.

  • この飲(の)み物(もの)はなかなか飲(の)めない珍(めずら)しい飲(の)み物(もの)です。

    This is a rare and not so easily drinkable drink.

  • 最近(さいきん)、あたしはなかなかやる気(き)が出(で)ない。

    Recently I am not easily motivated.

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なかなか～ない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    Does this なかなか ~ ない need a “related” link to ろくに～ない?
    陸に～ない | Japanese Grammar SRS

  • CrisH

    CrisH

    結果けっかがなかなか出でない から不安ふあんです。
    The hint for this sentence is “by no means”, but the translation is “I am anxious because it is taking quite some time for the results to be released.”

    I think it would make more sense using the “not readily” meaning, since the results are not readily available, whereas I can’t see a way of expressing this meaning with “by no means” without changing the sentence somewhat (e.g. “I am by no means able to find out the result”).

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