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あまり・全然 〜ない

not very, not at all

あまり / 全然 + negative

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あまり with a negative softens it to "not very" or "not much": あまり高くない, "not very expensive"; あまり見ません, "I don't watch it much". 全然 makes it total: 全然分からない, "I don't understand at all".

Both need a negative verb or adjective later in the sentence. とても ("very") is their positive partner and can't be used with a negative: とても高くない is wrong.

あまり is also the polite way to say you don't like something: あまり好きじゃないです sounds far gentler than 嫌いです.

In casual speech, 全然 sometimes appears with a positive to mean "totally": 全然大丈夫, "totally fine".

Examples

  • この店みせはあまり高たかくないです。

    This shop isn't very expensive.

  • フランス語ごは全然ぜんぜん分わかりません。

    I don't understand French at all.

  • テレビはあまり見みません。

    I don't watch much TV.

  • 昨日きのうは全然ぜんぜん寝ねられなかった。

    I couldn't sleep at all last night.

  • 魚さかなはあまり好すきじゃないです。

    I'm not a big fan of fish.

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