Meaning and Usage
"中々" (なかなか) is an adverb used to express a considerable degree or extent of something, often translated as "quite," "considerably," or "very." It is commonly used in positive sentences to emphasize how good or difficult something is.
Negative Sentences
When used with negative verbs, "中々" conveys the meaning of "not easily" or "not readily," indicating that something takes time or effort to happen. For example, "中々来ません" means "doesn't come easily" or "takes a long time to come."
Common Collocations
- 中々いい (なかなかいい): quite good
- 中々難しい (なかなかむずかしい): quite difficult
- 中々できない (なかなかできない): not able to do easily
Register and Politeness
"中々" is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. It is common in everyday conversation and writing.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "中々" with "なかなか" used only in negative sentences. Remember it can be used positively to mean "quite" or "considerably," not just in negatives.