全然 (ぜんぜん) — Japanese Vocabulary
全然 (ぜんぜん / zenzen): not at all (+ negative). N4 level Japanese vocabulary.
全然 — ぜんぜん (zenzen)
Part of speech: adverb JLPT level: N4 Reading: ぜんぜん (zenzen) Meaning: not at all; completely (when used with negative verbs)
Word Breakdown
- 全 (ぜん): This kanji means "all," "whole," or "entire." It is a common component in words denoting completeness.
- On-yomi: ゼン (zen)
- Kun-yomi: まった(く) (matta-ku), すべ(て) (sube-te)
The word 全然 is a reduplication of the kanji 全, emphasizing the sense of "entirely" or "wholly." In modern Japanese, it is almost exclusively used with negative predicates to mean "not at all."
All Readings
- 全 (ぜん):
- On-yomi: ゼン (zen) — Used in this word.
- Kun-yomi: まった(く) (matta-ku) — Not used in this word.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 全然わかりません。 | ぜんぜんわかりません。 | Zenzen wakarimasen. | I don't understand at all. |
| 宿題は全然していません。 | しゅくだいはぜんぜんしていません。 | Shukudai wa zenzen shite imasen. | I haven't done my homework at all. |
| 昨日は全然寝られませんでした。 | きのうはぜんぜんねられませんでした。 | Kinō wa zenzen neraremasen deshita. | I couldn't sleep at all yesterday. |
| この映画は全然面白くなかったです。 | このえいがはぜんぜんおもしろくなかったです。 | Kono eiga wa zenzen omoshirokunakatta desu. | This movie wasn't interesting at all. |
| 彼は全然やる気がありません。 | かれはぜんぜんやるきがありません。 | Kare wa zenzen yaruki ga arimasen. | He has no motivation at all. |
| 私は辛い食べ物が全然食べられません。 | わたしはからいたべものがぜんぜんたべられません。 | Watashi wa karai tabemono ga zenzen taberaremasen. | I cannot eat spicy food at all. |
| その件については全然知りません。 | そのけんについてはぜんぜんしりません。 | Sono ken ni tsuite wa zenzen shirimasen. | I don't know anything about that matter at all. |
| 準備は全然できていません。 | じゅんびはぜんぜんできていません。 | Junbi wa zenzen dekite imasen. | The preparations are not at all complete. |
Related Words and Compounds
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 全て | すべて | Subete | All; everything |
| 全体 | ぜんたい | Zentai | Whole; entire |
| 全力 | ぜんりょく | Zenryoku | Full power; all one's might |
| 全然〜ない | ぜんぜん〜ない | Zenzen ~ nai | Not at all (the standard grammar) |
| 全く | まったく | Mattaku | Entirely; really (often used with negative) |
| 全員 | ぜんいん | Zen'in | All members; everyone |
| 全国 | ぜんこく | Zenkoku | Nationwide |
| 全開 | ぜんかい | Zenkai | Full throttle; wide open |
Common Mistakes
❌ 全然いいです。 (Zenzen ii desu.) → ✓ 全然問題ありません。 (Zenzen mondai arimasen.) — Explanation: While younger generations use "zenzen" with positive adjectives (meaning "totally good"), this is considered non-standard and grammatically incorrect by many native speakers. Always pair it with a negative verb or adjective.
❌ 全然食べる。 (Zenzen taberu.) → ✓ 全然食べない。 (Zenzen tabenai.) — Explanation: "Zenzen" requires a negative predicate. Using it with a positive verb sounds confusing and unnatural.
In Context — Mini Dialogue
A: このテスト、難しかったね。 (Kono tesuto, muzukashikatta ne.) This test was difficult, wasn't it?
B: うん、全然わからなかったよ。 (Un, zenzen wakaranakatta yo.) Yeah, I didn't understand it at all.
A: 勉強した？ (Benkyō shita?) Did you study?
B: 全然してない。 (Zenzen shitenai.) I didn't study at all.
Usage Notes
The primary rule for zenzen is that it must be followed by a negative form (e.g., ~nai, ~masen, ~nai desu). It acts as an intensifier for the negative, emphasizing the complete absence of an action or state.
In casual, colloquial speech, you may occasionally hear younger Japanese speakers use zenzen with positive words (e.g., zenzen oishii — "totally delicious"). However, as a learner, you should avoid this usage, as it is widely considered "incorrect" or "sloppy" by older generations and in formal writing. Stick to the standard negative collocation to ensure you are understood correctly in all contexts.
Note that zenzen is a strong word. Using it can sound quite blunt or dramatic. If you want to be more polite or nuanced, you might consider using amari (not very much) or sorehodo (not to that extent) depending on the situation.