あまり~ない (not very)

grammar

38 sentences

The pattern あまり + negative predicate, meaning 'not very, not particularly, not too much.' Softens a negative claim — あまり良くない ('not very good') hedges more than 良くない ('not good'). Without the negation, あまり means 'too much'; this is one of the polarity-sensitive adverbs that change meaning depending on the verb's polarity.

38 sentences