Word
全く
Meaning in Englishreally, completely
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Word context
What it means
全く is a degree adverb meaning completely or absolutely; used to intensify a statement and is most common with negation, though it can appear with positive predicates for strong emphasis.
Main meanings
- extreme degree: completely, utterly, absolutely
- negation emphasis: paired with ない form to express not at all
- emphatic oral usage: adds strong emotion in casual speech
How to use it
Used as an adverb in both casual and formal Japanese; typically precedes the verb or adjective it modifies; before negative verbs, it is placed directly before the verb; common in phrases like 全く知らない, 全く問題ない; in formal writing, use sparingly to avoid excessive emphasis.
Variants and close terms
- 完全に (kanzen ni) — completely
- すっかり (sukkari) — utterly / entirely
- 全然 (zenzens) — not at all (negative context); can be used in positive sense in some modern speech
- 少しも (sukoshi mo) — not even a little
Composition
- 全 = whole, entire
- 無 = nothing, absence
- combined as an idiomatic adverb, they form a fixed intensifier meaning completely or utterly
Word class
adverb (副詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
健全
kenzen
health, soundness, wholesome
N1
全快
zenkai
complete recovery of health
N1
全盛
zensei
height of prosperity
N1
全滅
zemmetsu
annihilation
N2
全集
zenshuu
complete works
N2
全般
zempan
(the) whole, general
N2
全力
zenryoku
all one's power, whole energy
N3
全て
subete
all, everything, entirely
N3
完全
kanzen
perfect, complete, total
Kanji