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㊦ 間・あいだ(に) ←

→ ㊦ ある(1)

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Adverb

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The degree of something is not great.

(not) very much; (not) very

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Key Sentences

(ks). この本はあまりよくない・よくありません。

This book is not very good.

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Examples

(a). 鈴木さんはあまり食べない。

Miss Suzuki does not eat much.

(b). 私はあまり速く走れません。

I cannot run very fast.

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Notes

1. The adverb あまり usually occurs in negative sentences, meaning 'not very (much)'. あまり is one of a group of adverbs which co-occur with negative predicates. They include:

(1)
• 全然 '(not) at all'; 滅多に 'rarely, seldom'; 決して 'never, by no means'; さっぱり '(not) at all; 少しも '(not) a bit'; ちっとも '(not) a bit'.

2. あんまり is a phonological variant of あまり and usually used in conversation.

3. In limited situations, あまり can be used in affirmative sentences, too. In this case, it means 'very; too' with a negative implication. Examples:

(2)
• a. スコットがあまリ失礼なことを言うのでサリーは怒って帰ってしまった。
• Since Scott was very rude (literally: said very rude things), Sally got mad and went home.
• b. 井上さんはあまリ酒を飲んだので病気になった。
• Mr. Inoue drank too much and became ill.
• c. それはあんまリです。
• You're (literally: That's) too cruel.

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㊦ 間・あいだ(に) ←

→ ㊦ ある(1)

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