あまり

あまり

adverb

not very, not much

See also: あんまり (casual form), 余(あま)り (remainder (余))

1. not very, not much

Used with negatives to express a low degree.

あまり好(す)きじゃないです。

I don't like it very much.

日本語(にほんご)があまりわかりません。

I don't understand Japanese very well.

あまり食(た)べませんでした。

I didn't eat much.

今日(きょう)はあまり寒(さむ)くなかったので、外(そと)で遊(あそ)びました。

It wasn't very cold today, so we played outside.

この店(みせ)は安(やす)いけど、あまりおいしくないので、友達(ともだち)にはすすめません。

This shop is cheap, but the food isn't very good, so I don't recommend it to friends.

あまり is used with negative forms to mean "not very" or "not much."

Common patterns

あまり + negative: not very, not much
Must be followed by a negative predicate
あまり好(す)きじゃない: don't really like
あまり分(わ)からない: don't really understand
あまり使(つか)わない: don't use much
あまり食(た)べない: don't eat much

Degree comparison

あまり〜ない: not very (soft negation)
全然(ぜんぜん)〜ない: not at all (strong negation)
ほとんど〜ない: hardly, barely

Note: In casual speech, あんまり is also used.

Related Words

Synonym: 全然(ぜんぜん) (not at all (stronger))

Compare: それほど (to that extent, that much)

Compare: そんなに (so much, to that extent)

basic

Added 2026.1.8 0:56 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:00

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