Word
全く
Meaning in Englishreally, completely
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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
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