とても～ない
🃏 Flashcard
とても～ない
totemo~nai
Tap to reveal usage
cannot possibly be; hardly~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
totemo~nai
Post ID
50964
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
cannot possibly be; hardly~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something is so extreme that it cannot be done or is practically impossible.
Attaches to
Attach とても to the negative form of a verb (ない-form) or to the negative form of an adjective (e.g., 高くない). The pattern is とても + [negative predicate].
This pattern emphasizes that the negative statement is absolute. It is often used with potential verbs (like できる, 分かる) or with adjectives to say that the degree is so high that the opposite is impossible. For example, とても信じられない means "cannot possibly believe" or "hardly believable." It is stronger than just saying 信じられない alone.
In conversation, the とても can be replaced by どうしても in some cases, but とても is more common in this pattern. Note that とても here is not the positive "very" meaning; it intensifies the negation. The nuance is often one of surprise, impossibility, or strong emotion.
こんなにたくさんの宿題はとても一人では終わらない。
Kon'nani takusan no shukudai wa totemo hitori de wa owaranai.
With this much homework, I can't possibly finish it alone.
彼の言ったことはとても信じられない。
Kare no itta koto wa totemo shinjirarenai.
What he said is hardly believable.
その値段ではとても買えない。
Sono nedan de wa totemo kaenai.
I can't possibly afford that price.
Not とても (positive meaning: very)
When followed by a positive adjective or adverb, とても means 'very.' When followed by a negative form (especially a potential negative), it means 'cannot possibly.' The key is the predicate's polarity: negative → impossible, positive → very.
Register
Common in both spoken and written Japanese, but especially frequent in everyday conversation to express strong doubt or inability.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
とても～ない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat とても～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 とても～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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern とても～ない mean?
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Cannot possibly be; hardly~
What JLPT level is とても～ない?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use とても～ない in a sentence?
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Attach とても～ない (totemo~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 とても～ない formal or casual Japanese?
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とても～ない is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember とても～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.