Meaning and Usage
"残らず" means "completely" or "without exception." It emphasizes that nothing is left behind or excluded. This adverb is often used to express thoroughness or completeness in actions.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "残らず" used when talking about consuming food, completing tasks, or copying documents, where the speaker wants to stress that everything was done or taken care of.
Collocations and Patterns
- 残らず食べる: to eat everything without leaving any
- 残らず終わらせる: to finish everything completely
- 残らずコピーする: to copy all without exception
Register and Nuance
"残らず" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is more emphatic than simply saying "全部" (all) because it stresses that nothing remains.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "残らず" with "残す" (to leave behind). Remember that "残らず" means "without leaving anything behind," so it has a positive nuance of completeness, not leaving something unfinished.