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ぜんぜん・あまり~ない: the difference

Meaning

(Not) at all

Past papers

Not yet

Example

着物きものが全然ぜんぜん似合にあわない。

Kimonos don't look good on me at all.

Meaning

Not very, Not much, Not really, Hardly

Past papers

Tested once in past papers

Example

このケーキはあまり美味おいしくない。

This cake isn't very delicious.

How to tell them apart

「ぜんぜん~ない」: zero degree; fine in speech and writing.

「まったく~ない」: also zero, but more formal and stronger.

「あまり~ない」: 'not very'; only a partial negative.

When you see 「ぜんぜん」 in a question, look for 「ない/ありません」 after it.

All about ぜんぜん ›All about あまり~ない ›