なかなか

なかなか
adverb
quite, rather; not easily
1. quite, rather, fairly (with affirmative)
To a considerable degree.
なかなかいい。
It's quite good.
なかなか上手(じょうず)ですね。
You're quite good.
この店(みせ)の料理(りょうり)はなかなか美味(おい)しい。
The food at this restaurant is quite delicious.
このドラマはなかなか面白(おもしろ)くて、毎週(まいしゅう)楽(たの)しみにしている。
This drama is quite interesting, and I look forward to it every week.
彼(かれ)の説明(せつめい)はなかなか分(わ)かりやすくて、難(むずか)しい話題(わだい)でも理解(りかい)できた。
His explanation was quite easy to understand, so I could follow even difficult topics.
2. not easily, hardly (with negative)
Indicating difficulty or taking a long time.
なかなか来(こ)ない。
They're not coming easily.
なかなか覚(おぼ)えられない。
I can't easily remember it.
忙(いそが)しくてなかなか会(あ)えないね。
We're so busy that we can't easily meet, can we?
日本語(にほんご)の漢字(かんじ)はなかなか覚(おぼ)えられない。
Japanese kanji are not easy to memorize.
新(あたら)しい仕事(しごと)になかなか慣(な)れなくて、毎日(まいにち)大変(たいへん)だ。
I'm having trouble adjusting to my new job, and every day is tough.

なかなか changes meaning depending on whether the sentence is affirmative or negative.

WITH AFFIRMATIVES (quite, rather):

Expresses moderate praise or acknowledgment.

  • なかなかいい: quite good
  • なかなか上手(じょうず): fairly skilled
  • なかなか美味(おい)しい: pretty tasty

WITH NEGATIVES (not easily, hardly):

Expresses difficulty or that something takes time.

  • なかなか来(こ)ない: won't come easily
  • なかなか覚(おぼ)えられない: can't easily memorize
  • なかなか会(あ)えない: hard to meet

NUANCE:
In positive contexts, なかなか suggests "better than expected" or "surprisingly good." In negative contexts, it conveys mild frustration or resignation about difficulty.

core
Added 2026.1.8 21:18 · Revised 2026.3.13 11:36
01500/01547_nakanaka