まるっきり

まるっきり means completely; absolutely; totally; (not) at all. It is a JLPT N1 adverb used to emphasize a total negation — that something is absolutely not the case, not at all, or utterly lacking.

This grammar point often appears in spoken Japanese, essays, novels, and JLPT N1 listening and reading passages. If you want to stress that something is not the case in any way whatsoever, まるっきり is a compact, expressive tool that adds punch to your Japanese.

What does まるっきり mean?

Use まるっきり when you want to deny something completely, with zero exception. It always pairs with a negative predicate — a verb, adjective, or noun in the negative form. The core message is “nothing at all” or “absolutely not.”

Natural translations include:

• completely (not)
• absolutely (not)
• totally (not)
• (not) at all

Because it only appears with negatives, the English gloss will often be “not at all” rather than “completely.” For example, “まるっきりわからない” means “I don’t understand at all,” not “I completely don’t understand” (though the emphasis is the same).

How to form まるっきり

まるっきり is an adverb that directly modifies a negative predicate. No conjugation or particle is needed. The pattern is simply:

Examples of the pattern:

• まるっきりわからない
• まるっきり正ただしくない
• まるっきり解決かいけつになっていない

The negative form is mandatory. If you see まるっきり followed by a positive ending, it’s almost certainly a mistake (unless the sentence has an implied negative somewhere, like しか～ない). In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often try to slip まるっきり into a positive sentence — catching learners who overlook this restriction.

When is まるっきり used?

Use まるっきり in situations like:

• expressing frustration, disbelief, or strong denial
• describing a complete lack of understanding, progress, change, or truth
• adding colloquial emphasis in conversation
• emphasizing a stark contrast between expectation and reality

Tone and register:

• slightly informal; common in everyday speech, blogs, and fiction
• can appear in formal writing when the writer wants to sound emphatic or emotional
• frequent in expressions of personal feelings (“I have no idea at all,” “nothing’s changed one bit”)

It’s more conversational than まったく, but both are used in speech. まるっきり feels a bit more dramatic, like throwing your hands up in exasperation.

まるっきり example sentences

After reading each sentence, notice that まるっきり magnifies the negation. The predicate is already “no”; まるっきり says “absolutely no.” That intensity is what makes the expression natural in emotionally charged contexts.

Nuance of まるっきり

The key nuance is total, uncompromising negation — zero percent.

This matters because learners often think “completely” is a neutral intensifier, but まるっきり is heavily negative. You never use it to say “completely correct” or “completely delicious.” That’s the domain of まったく or すっかり.

The emotional weight is also important. まるっきり often colors a sentence with frustration, disappointment, or disbelief. It’s the word you use when you’ve given up trying to understand, or when a situation is hopelessly unchanged.

まるっきり vs まったく

Both まるっきり and まったく can express “completely,” but their usage differs.

Key takeaway: If the sentence is positive, use まったく (or すっかり). If you need a strong, emotionally colored “not at all” for a conversational setting, まるっきり fits perfectly.

Common mistakes with まるっきり

A useful drill: take a sentence with まるっきり and try to rewrite it with まったく. If the negation disappears, the original was wrong. If the meaning stays but the emotional tone softens, you’re using both correctly.

Is まるっきり on the JLPT?

Yes. まるっきり is a JLPT N1 grammar point, typically appearing in the vocabulary/knowledge portions and in reading comprehension questions that test nuance.

In JLPT test items, you might see questions that ask which adverb fills a blank in a negative sentence. The presence of a negative predicate is a strong clue for まるっきり, especially if the surrounding tone is conversational or frustrated.

Practice questions for まるっきり

Keep the sentences short at first. Once you’re comfortable, embed まるっきり inside a longer story to feel how it drives the emotional impact.

Learning path for まるっきり

Related grammar to review next

• まみれ — an intensifier that, like まるっきり, adds a strong, all‑or‑nothing feeling, but with physical coverage
• もどうぜんだ — expresses that something is practically the same as; useful when comparing degrees of “nothing”
• まくる — indicates doing something relentlessly; the intensity of action contrasts with まるっきり’s total lack
• めく — shows a sign or semblance of something; studying it alongside まるっきり sharpens your sense of “presence” vs “absolute absence”

Learn まるっきり with Hane

If you want to lock in まるっきり alongside these related patterns, Hane helps you practice Japanese through targeted, bite‑sized quizzes and review.

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