全然～ないzenzen nai“not at all”

全然～ない means not at all. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is chosen independently from the source-list gloss so it stays natural, concise, and useful for learners searching for 全然～ない.

What does 全然～ない mean?

Use 全然～ない when you want to express not at all in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

• not at all
• to express “not at all” naturally
• the closest natural meaning in context

How to form 全然～ない

全然 + negative expression

Examples of the pattern:

• 全然難しくない
• 全然寒くありません
• 全然分かりません

When is 全然～ない used?

Use 全然～ない in situations like:

• reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
• making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
• recognizing natural grammar in conversation, signs, or short passages

Tone and register:

• usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, formal, or written
• common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese

全然～ない example sentences

• 日本語は全然難しくないです。 — Japanese is not difficult at all.
• 今日は全然寒くありません。 — It is not cold at all today.
• 彼の話が全然分かりません。 — I do not understand his story at all.
• お腹は全然すいていません。 — I am not hungry at all.
• この問題は全然できませんでした。 — I could not do this problem at all.

After reading each sentence, ask what job 全然～ない is doing: emphasizing a complete lack of something.

Nuance of 全然～ない

The key nuance is not at all in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because 全然～ない can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

全然～ない vs まったく

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

全然～ない:

• is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
• focuses on not at all

まったく:

• is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
• may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus

Quick contrast examples:

• Target pattern: 日本語は全然難しくないです。 — Japanese is not difficult at all.
• Related pattern with まったく: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.

Common mistakes with 全然～ない

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
• Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
• Confusing 全然～ない with まったく because the English can sound similar

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with 全然～ない, then rewrite it with まったく.

Is 全然～ない on the JLPT?

Yes. 全然～ない is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for 全然～ない

• Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
• Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
• Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.

Learning path for 全然～ない

To learn 全然～ない efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

1. First, make one short sentence with 全然～ない in its most literal meaning.
2. Next, compare it with あまり～ない to strengthen the contrast between ability, ease, difficulty, and negation.
3. Then, add はずがない or ことができる to see how the nuance changes.
4. Finally, write one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one that contrasts 全然～ない with one of the related patterns below.

Related grammar to review next

• あまり～ない — not very; not particularly.
• はずがない — there is no way that.
• ことができる — can; be able to.
• られる — can do; potential form.

Learn 全然～ない with Hane

If you want to review 全然～ない together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

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