あまり～ない
Not very or not much
You'll be able to soften a negative statement by saying something is not true to a great degree.
芽衣は野菜をあまり食べません。
mei wa yasai o amari tabemasen.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mei does not eat many vegetables.
Express a low degree or frequency
あまり with a negative predicate means not very much or not often. It leaves room for a small amount, unlike a complete denial.
この本はあまり高くないです。
kono hon wa amari takakunai desu.
This book is not very expensive.
Form and use あまり～ない
Use あまり食べない for not eating much and あまり高くない for not very expensive. This lesson uses the negative pattern, not other affirmative uses of あまり.
この本はあまり高くないです。
kono hon wa amari takakunai desu.
This book is not very expensive.
最近はあまりテレビを見ません。
saikin wa amari terebi o mimasen.
I do not watch television much these days.
最近は忙しくて、あまり寝ていません。
saikin wa isogashikute, amari nete imasen.
I've been busy lately and haven't been sleeping much.
この映画はあまりおもしろくなかったです。
kono eiga wa amari omoshiroku nakatta desu.
This movie wasn't very interesting.
私はお酒をあまり飲みません。
watashi wa osake o amari nomimasen.
I don't drink much alcohol.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.