なかなか

• 読み: なかなか
• ローマ字: nakanaka
• 発音: /na.ka.na.ka/

意味

Very; considerably; quite; fairly. Expresses that something exceeds expectations, either positively or negatively.

An adverb with two main uses: (1) with positive expressions, meaning 'quite, fairly, considerably' — often implying pleasant surprise; (2) with negative verb forms, meaning 'not easily, not readily.' The kanji form 中々 exists but hiragana is standard in modern writing.

例文

1. この料理はなかなかおいしいですね。
2. 日本語の漢字はなかなか覚えられません。
3. 彼の絵はなかなか上手だと思います。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, compliments, impressions

トーン: appreciative

起源と歴史

From 中 (naka, middle/inside) reduplicated. Originally meant 'halfway' or 'moderately,' which evolved into the modern sense of 'quite' or 'considerably' — something that goes beyond the middle point of expectation.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal