Processing keyword: まったく～ない (mattaku ~nai)

Japanese Grammar Point: まったく～ない (mattaku ~nai)

1. Introduction

In this lesson, we'll explore the Japanese grammar point 「まったく～ない (mattaku ~nai)」, which is used to express "not at all" or "completely not". Understanding this expression will help you articulate strong negation in Japanese, enhancing your ability to communicate more precisely.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

• まったく～ない is used to emphasize that something does not happen at all or is completely not the case.
• It conveys absolute negation, similar to "not at all," "absolutely not," or "totally not" in English.

Structure

The basic structure of まったく～ない is as follows:

1. まったく + [Verb in negative form]
2. まったく + [い-adjective (－い) + くない]
3. まったく + [な-adjective + ではない/じゃない]
4. まったく + [Noun + ではない/じゃない]

Formation Diagram

Part of Speech	Formation	Example
Verb	まったく + Verb (ない form)	まったく分からない
い-adjective	まったく + Adj (－い) + くない	まったく寒くない
な-adjective	まったく + Adj + ではない/じゃない	まったく静かではない
Noun	まったく + Noun + ではない/じゃない	まったく問題ではない

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3. Comparative Analysis

まったく～ない vs. ぜんぜん～ない

• ぜんぜん～ない (zenzen ~nai) also means "not at all," but まったく～ない often conveys a stronger emphasis.
• まったく is slightly more formal and can express frustration or disbelief more strongly than ぜんぜん.

まったく～ない vs. 少しも～ない

• 少しも～ない (sukoshi mo ~nai) means "not even a little," emphasizing the absence of even a small amount.
• Both expressions indicate total negation, but まったく～ない is more commonly used in everyday language.

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4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

Formal Situations

1. まったく理解できません。
   • Mattaku rikai dekimasen.
   • I cannot understand it at all.
2. 彼の説明はまったく役に立たない。
   • Kare no setsumei wa mattaku yaku ni tatanai.
   • His explanation is absolutely useless.

Informal Situations

3. 最近、彼女からまったく連絡がない。
   • Saikin, kanojo kara mattaku renraku ga nai.
   • Recently, there's been no contact from her at all.
4. この料理はまったくおいしくない。
   • Kono ryouri wa mattaku oishiku nai.
   • This dish is not tasty at all.

Written Language

5. そのニュースにはまったく驚いた。
   • Sono nyūsu ni wa mattaku odoroita.
   • I was completely surprised by that news.
6. 彼の話はまったくの嘘だ。
   • Kare no hanashi wa mattaku no uso da.
   • His story is an outright lie.

Spoken Language

7. まったく、信じられない！
   • Mattaku, shinjirarenai!
   • Honestly, I can't believe it!
8. まったく困ったものだ。
   • Mattaku komatta mono da.
   • Good grief, this is troubling.

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5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

• まったく can function as an adverb meaning "completely" or as an interjection expressing frustration, similar to "good grief" or "honestly" in English.
• Using まったく in conversation can convey strong emotion, so it's important to be mindful of the context and the company you're in.

Idiomatic Expressions

• まったくもう
  • An expression used to show exasperation.
  • Mattaku mō.
  • Good grief! / Honestly!
• まったく以て
  • Strengthens the emphasis, meaning "utterly" or "absolutely."
  • Mattaku motte.
  • Absolutely.

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

• Mistake: Using まったく in positive sentences.
  • Incorrect: 彼はまったく元気です。
    • Kare wa mattaku genki desu.
  • Correction: Omit まったく or use とても (totemo).
    • Kare wa totemo genki desu.
    • He is very well.
• Mistake: Confusing まったく with 全く (meaning "entirely") in affirmative contexts.
  • Note: While まったく can mean "entirely," when used with a negative verb, it conveys "not at all."

Learning Strategies

• Tip: Associate まったく with "completely not" to remember it's used with negative forms.
• Practice: Create sentences about things you don't do or dislike using まったく～ない.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• まったく～ない expresses strong negation, meaning "not at all" or "completely not."
• Used with verbs, adjectives, and nouns in their negative forms.
• Conveys stronger emphasis than ぜんぜん～ない and is slightly more formal.
• Can also be used as an interjection to express frustration.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. Translate to Japanese: "I can't sleep at all."
   • Answer: まったく眠れない。
     • Mattaku nemurenai.
2. True or False: まったく can be used in positive sentences to mean "very."
   • Answer: False. It should be used with negative forms to express "not at all."
3. Fill in the blank: この本は_____面白くない。
   • Answer: まったく
     • Kono hon wa mattaku omoshiroku nai.
     • This book is not interesting at all.

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By mastering まったく～ない, you'll enhance your ability to express strong negation in Japanese, making your conversations more precise and nuanced.

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