なかなか～ない
Something does not happen easily
You'll be able to express that an expected or desired result is taking longer or proving harder than hoped.
バスがなかなか来ません。
basu ga nakanaka kimasen.
What do you think this sentence means?
The bus is taking a long time to come.
Wait longer than expected for a result
なかなか～ない says an expected result does not happen easily or soon. It often conveys difficulty, delay, or frustration despite effort or waiting.
この漢字がなかなか覚えられません。
kono kanji ga nakanaka oboeraremasen.
I cannot seem to memorize this kanji.
Form and use なかなか～ない
Use 来ない for a delayed arrival and 覚えられない for difficulty memorizing. Affirmative なかなか can mean “quite,” which is a separate use.
この漢字がなかなか覚えられません。
kono kanji ga nakanaka oboeraremasen.
I cannot seem to memorize this kanji.
夜、なかなか眠れません。
yoru, nakanaka nemuremasen.
At night I have trouble getting to sleep.
タクシーがなかなか来ないので、駅まで歩きました。
takushii ga nakanaka konai node, eki made arukimashita.
The taxi just wasn't coming, so I walked to the station.
日本の生活になかなか慣れません。
nihon no seikatsu ni nakanaka naremasen.
I just can't get used to life in Japan.
風邪がなかなか治りません。
kaze ga nakanaka naorimasen.
My cold just won't go away.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.