Amounts of quantification
以 prefix
以上 means “above”, “exceeding”. 以下 means “below”, “not exceeding”. 以外 means “excepting”. 以内 means “within”.
Used with nouns.
Example
1時間以内終わります。 It will be finished within an hour.
せいぜい
Means “at the most”. Used before a noun of time or a verb.
Example
せいぜい頑張ります。 I’ll do my best.
この木はせいぜい3年です。 This tree is at most 3 years old.
さらに
更に means “even more”, “more and more”, “in addition to”. Used with time, quantity, etc.
Example
新しい仕事を始めてさらにうれしいになりました。 I’ve become even happier with my new job.
別に~ない
別に means “not really”, “not particularly”. Used with words in negative form.
Example
どうしてエアコンを付きましたか。今は別に暑くないよ。 Why did you turn on the AC? It’s not that hot right now.
わずかに
Means “slightly”, “only”, “a little”. Used at the beginning of a phrase to indicate a particularly small amount of something.
Example
いつでも隣の人の音がわずかに聞こえます。 You can always hear the neighbours a little bit.
No matter how
どんなに~ても
どんなに +
V (て)
い-Adj い くても
な-Adj + でも
N + でも
Means “no matter how much”. Also used as いくら~ても.
Example
どんなに練習しても、マラソンを走れない。 No matter how much I train, I cannot run a marathon.
どうしても
Means “no matter what”.
Example
どうしても花火に行きたい。 No matter what, I want to go see the fireworks.
At least
少なくとも
少なくとも means “at least”. Implies an obligation.
Example
少なくとももっと三人が必要です。 At least three more people are required.
せめて
Means “at least”. Implies a request.
Example
せめて週に一度勉強してください。 Please study at least once a week.
だけましだ
V
い-Adj
な-Adj + な
N + である
+ だけましだ
Means “should be grateful for”, “at least”, “better than”. Means that while something is not good, or not as good as one wishes, it’s still better than nothing or an alternative.
Examples
給料がちょっとすくない、就職だけましだ。 The salary is a little low, but at least I found a job.
Very
てしょうがない・てしかたがない
V (て)
い-Adj い くて
な-Adj + な で
+ しょうがない・しかたがない
Means both “extremely” and “can’t be helped”. See てしょうがない・てしかたがない
Example
今日は暑くてしょうがない。 Today is extremely hot.
なかなか
なかなか +
Adj
の + N
Means “very”, “quite”. See also なかなか~ない.
Example
今日はなかなか寒いね。 It’s quite cold today.
だけ
V (dictionary)
い-Adj
な-Adj + な
N
+ だけ
Means “as much”. See also だけ.
Example
私は払うんでだ、飲むだけ飲んで! I’ll be paying, so drink as much as you can!
なるべく・できるだけ
Means “as much as possible”. なるべく is a bit softer than できるだけ.
Example
なるべく静かにしてください。 Please be as quiet as possible.
あまり
V
N + の
+ あまり
Means “so much… that”. Nominalized adjectives can be used as nouns. See ~さ adjective as noun and ~み adjective as noun.
Example
おいしさのあまり、このレストラン毎日行きたい。 The food is so delicious that I want to eat in this restaurant every day.
あまりにも
あまりに(も) +
V
Adj
あまりの +
N
Means “so much… that”. A version of あまり that can also be used with adjectives.
Example
先生があまりに厳しくて、私は泣き始めった。 The teacher was so strict that I started to cry.
Not at all
ちっとも~ない
Means “not at all”. Has a nuance of perhaps happening once or twice. It is casual. Used with a verb in the negative (ない) form.
Example
ちっとも学校を休まない。 I never miss school.
少しも~ない
少しも +
V (ない)
い-Adj + い くない
な-Adj + ではない
N + ではない
少しも~ない means “not at all”. Has a nuance of perhaps happening once or twice. Mostly used in writing.
Example
そのアパートは少しも大きくなかった。 That appartment was really not big.
全く~ない
全く~ない means “not at all”. Has a nuance of absolutely never happening. Used with a verb in the negative (ない) form.
Example
全く信じられない。 That is absolutely unbelievable.
として~ない
Means “not at all”. Has a nuance of absolutely never happening. Insists more on the duration: “not even”. Used before a a duration, a number, etc.
Example
彼女は一日として仕事を遅れなかった。 She has never missed a day of work, not even one day.
全然
全然 means “not at all”.
⚠ In more casual settings, it can be used for positive meanings: “completely”, “totally”.
Example
全然知らなかった。 I had no idea.