JLPT N3

なかなか

Quite; considerably; not easily (with neg.)

Structure

なかなか + Adjective/Adverb / なかなか + Verb (often negative)

How it works

なかなか has two main uses: it amplifies an adjective or adverb, meaning 'quite' or 'considerably', or when used with a negative verb, it indicates difficulty or lack of progress, meaning 'not easily' or 'cannot readily'.

Examples

この本はなかなか面白い。

This book is quite interesting.

Common mistakes

Only associating it with its negative meaning and therefore misinterpreting sentences like 'なかなか良い' (quite good).

Tip

Remember to distinguish its positive and negative connotations. 'なかなか難しい' (quite difficult) vs. 'なかなかできない' (can't easily do).

More JLPT N3 grammar

としてに対してについてによってに関してにとってわけだわけがない

See なかなか in real Japanese

Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.

Try InputDojo free