ちっとも～ない
🃏 Flashcard
ちっとも～ない
chitto mo~nai
Tap to reveal usage
(not) at all; (not) in the least
N2
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
chitto mo~nai
Post ID
51002
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
(not) at all; (not) in the least
📖 How to use it
Expresses complete negation: 'not at all' or 'not in the least'.
Attaches to
Attach ちっとも to the negative form of a verb (dictionary form + ない), to the negative form of い-adjectives (stem + くない), or to じゃない for nouns and な-adjectives.
ちっとも～ない is a strong negation that emphasizes that something does not happen even a little. It is often used in spoken Japanese to express surprise or disappointment that something expected did not occur. The pattern is straightforward: ちっとも comes before the negative predicate. For verbs, use the plain negative form (e.g., 食べない). For い-adjectives, drop the final い and add くない (e.g., 面白くない). For nouns and な-adjectives, use じゃない (e.g., 便利じゃない). Note that ちっとも is somewhat casual and is more common in conversation than in formal writing. It is similar to 全然 but slightly stronger and more emotive.
朝ごはんを食べなかったのに、ちっともお腹が空いていない。
Asagohan o tabenakatta noni, chitto mo onaka ga suite inai.
Even though I didn't eat breakfast, I'm not hungry at all.
この映画はちっとも面白くないから、途中でやめた。
Kono eiga wa chitto mo omoshirokunai kara, tochuu de yameta.
This movie isn't interesting in the least, so I stopped watching halfway.
彼に何度も説明したけど、ちっともわかってくれない。
Kare ni nando mo setsumei shita kedo, chitto mo wakatte kurenai.
I explained it to him many times, but he doesn't understand at all.
Not 全然～ない
全然 is more neutral and widely used in both positive and negative contexts, while ちっとも is almost always used with negation and carries a stronger emotional tone of surprise or frustration.
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Spoken Japanese, casual to slightly informal; not used in formal writing or polite speeches.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ちっとも～ない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ちっとも～ない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ちっとも～ない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ちっとも～ない mean?
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(not) at all; (not) in the least
What JLPT level is ちっとも～ない?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ちっとも～ない in a sentence?
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Attach ちっとも～ない (chitto mo~nai) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ちっとも～ない formal or casual Japanese?
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ちっとも～ない is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember ちっとも～ない long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.