JLPT N5 grammar
あまり～ない — Meaning & Examples
Not very ~. Must be used with a negative form: あまりおいしくない (not very delicious), あまりすきじゃない (don't like very much). あまり alone without negative has a different meaning.
Practice questions
Try this question on あまり～ない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. このレストランはあまりおいしくないです (kono resutoran wa amari oishikunai desu) means?
- This restaurant is not very delicious
- This restaurant is very delicious
- This restaurant has no food
- I don't want to eat here
Show answer
Answer: This restaurant is not very delicious
あまり〜ない = not very 〜. It MUST be paired with a negative form — あまり alone with a positive adjective sounds unnatural in this sense.
Practise あまり～ない in the free app
This point is part of the “Adjective Conjugation” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
Free on iPhone and Android · No ads
Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Adjective Conjugation
Frequently asked questions
What does あまり～ない mean?
Not very ~. Must be used with a negative form: あまりおいしくない (not very delicious), あまりすきじゃない (don't like very much). あまり alone without negative has a different meaning.
Is あまり～ない on the JLPT N5 test?
あまり～ない is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Adjective Conjugation”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise あまり～ない?
Open the “Adjective Conjugation” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.