別に

• 読み: べつに
• ローマ字: betsuni
• 漢字の分解: 別 (betsu) — separate, different, another
• 発音: /be.tsɯ.ni/

意味

Not particularly; nothing special; not really. Used with negatives to downplay or dismiss something.

An adverb almost always used with negative verb forms: 別に構わない (I don't mind), 別に何もない (nothing in particular), 別にいい (it's fine / I don't care). On its own as a response to a question, 別に means 'nothing' or 'it's nothing.' Can also mean 'separately' in non-negative contexts (別に考える, think about it separately).

例文

1. 別にお腹は空いていないから大丈夫。
2. 何かあったの？別に何もないよ。
3. 別に怒っているわけじゃないけど残念だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: conversation, daily life, responses

トーン: dismissive

起源と歴史

From 別 (betsu, separate/different) plus the adverbial particle に. Originally meant 'separately' or 'distinctly,' and evolved to express 'not in particular' when paired with negatives.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal