全然(ぜんぜん)

ぜんぜん
adverb
not at all
informaldescriptive
1. not at all
Used with negative verbs to mean 'not at all'.
全然(ぜんぜん)わからない。
I don't understand at all.
全然(ぜんぜん)食(た)べませんでした。
I didn't eat at all.
全然(ぜんぜん)難(むずか)しくないです。
It's not difficult at all.
昨日(きのう)は全然(ぜんぜん)眠(ねむ)れなかった。
I couldn't sleep at all yesterday.
説明(せつめい)を聞(き)いたのに、全然(ぜんぜん)わかりませんでした。もう一度(いちど)説明(せつめい)してください。
I listened to the explanation, but I didn't understand at all. Please explain again.
2. completely (colloquial)
In casual speech, used with positive adjectives to mean 'totally'.
全然(ぜんぜん)大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)。
It's totally fine.
Colloquial positive use
全然(ぜんぜん)いいよ。
It's totally okay.
Colloquial positive use
全然(ぜんぜん)おいしい！
It's totally delicious!
Colloquial positive use
それ、全然(ぜんぜん)ありだと思(おも)う。
I think that's totally fine.
Colloquial positive use
「ごめん、遅(おく)れた！」「全然(ぜんぜん)大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)だよ。私(わたし)も今(いま)来(き)たところだから。」
"Sorry, I'm late!" "It's totally fine. I just got here too."
Colloquial positive use

Common patterns

With negatives (sense 1):

With positives (sense 2, casual):

Usage

The positive use is widely felt to be casual or even incorrect, although it appears in writing a century old. It is most natural when it answers a worry (全然(ぜんぜん)大丈夫(だいじょうぶ), "no problem at all"). In formal speech and writing, keep 全然(ぜんぜん) with negatives.

Similar words

  • 全(まった)く: not at all / completely; slightly more formal, and fine in writing.

Related Words

Synonym: 全(まった)く (completely (more formal))
Compare: すっかり (completely)
Compare: 何(なに)も (nothing, (not) anything)
Compare: 皆目(かいもく) ((not) at all)
Compare: 一向(いっこう) ((not) at all)
Compare: どういたしまして (you're welcome)
basic
Added 2026.1.8 0:55 · Revised 2026.10.10 22:54
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