Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 9/24

(べつ)に~ないNot really, Not particularly, It's not like...

Structure

(べつ) + Verb[ない]
(べつ) + [い]Adjective[ない]
(べつ) + [な]Adjective + ではない(1)
(べつ) + Noun + ではない(1)

(1) じゃない

Details

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About 別に〜ない

When paired with ない (either the い-Adjective or the auxiliary verb), the adverb (べつ)に 'separately' changes slightly in definition to that of (とく)に 'especially'. Let's have a look at a few examples.

This 'especially' nuance of (べつ)に comes from 'separately' being negated. The literal meaning of (べつ)に~ない is something like '(A) cannot be separated/differentiated'. This comes across as 'maybe it is a little (A), maybe a lot (A), but in any case, it cannot be said that it IS (A)'.

Caution

(べつ)に will quite often be paired with わけではない, as they both express uncertainty. However, it should never be paired with わけがない, as this would be combining a statement that removes certainty, with one that adds certainty.

Examples

--:--

    トムが(わる)いとは(べつ)にいっていないよ。

    I'm not really saying that Tom is bad. (not particularly)

    それは(べつ)(わる)いことではないよ。

    That's not particularly a bad thing.

    (べつ)(ゆめ)がないわけではないよ

    It is not that I don't really have a dream.

    (わたし)はそんなに音楽(おんがく)がうるさくても、(べつ)()にしない

    Even if the music is that loud, I don't particularly care.

    (べつ)(たの)しくないわけではない。(すこ)(つか)れているだけだ。

    It is not like I am not particularly having fun. I am just a bit tired.

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別に〜ない – Grammar Discussion