Structure
なかなか + Phrase + Verb[ない]
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Standard
使用域
一般
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 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.
To use なかなか (or 中々 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、風邪がなかなか治らないんですけど、どうした方がいいですか?Doctor, my cold is hardly getting any better, what should I do?
- 仕事が忙しくて中々休みが取れないんだよね。Work is getting so busy that I can hardly take a day off.
Fun Fact
As 中々 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.- あいつなかなか来ないね。連絡もないし、俺たちだけで行こう。He is not coming at all. Since he hasn't contacted us, let's just go without him.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
このシステムはなかなか改善されない。
This system is far from being improved.
調査がなかなか進まない。
The survey hardly makes any forward progress.
貯金がなかなかできない。
I can hardly save any money.
この飲み物はなかなか飲めない珍しい飲み物です。
This is a rare and not so easily drinkable drink.
最近、あたしはなかなかやる気が出ない。
Recently I am not easily motivated.
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なかなか + ない Form
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なかなか~ない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
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 SRSCrisH
結果がなかなか出ない から不安です。
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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