Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 14
Hardly ever
めったに〜ない ・ 決して〜ない ・ とても〜ない ・ なかなか
In this lesson, you will learn to say something hardly ever happens with めったに〜ない, to say 'never' as strongly as you can with 決して〜ない, to say something is impossible with とても〜ない, and to use なかなか for 'just won't' and for 'quite'. On a rainy afternoon at café みどり, Lisa tells Sakura what has happened between her and Minju.
By the end you will be able to say
最近、ミンジュと めったに 話さない。Lately, Minju and I hardly ever talk.
さくらは 決して 悪くない。Sakura, you're not to blame at all.
今の 状態は、とても 続けられない。I can't possibly go on like this.
話す 機会が なかなか ない。I just can't find a chance to talk.
雨が なかなか 止まないね。The rain just won't stop, will it?
The grammar in this lesson
- めったに〜ない — hardly ever — めったに with a negative verb means 'hardly ever; rarely'.
- 決して〜ない — never; by no means — 決して with a negative makes it as strong as it can be: 'never; by no means'.
- とても〜ない — cannot possibly — とても with a negative, usually a potential form, means 'cannot possibly'.
- なかなか — just won't; quite — なかなか + negative is 'just won't, not easily'; なかなか + positive is 'quite'.