あまり～ないNot very; not often
Use あまり with a negative verb or adjective to say that a frequency, amount, or degree is not high.
Meaning and placement
Place あまり before the phrase being evaluated, and make the verb or adjective negative. With an action, it often describes low frequency or amount; with an adjective, it describes a low degree.
Actions and qualities
Notice that the pattern is not limited to habits: it works equally well with qualities and states.
Do not confuse low degree with excessive degree
The pattern on this page requires a negative ending and presents the degree as low. By contrast, あまりの～に presents an excessive degree as the cause of a result.
あまりの暑さに、昼まで外へ出られなかった。
It was so extremely hot that I couldn't go outside until noon.
AnalyzeHere the heat is excessive; this is a different construction from the low-degree pattern taught on this page.
More examples
私はコーヒーをあまり飲まない。
I don't drink much coffee.
Analyzeこのかばんはあまり重くありません。
This bag isn't very heavy.
Analyzeその映画はあまり面白くなかった。
That movie wasn't very interesting.
Analyze昨日はあまり忙しくなかったです。
I wasn't very busy yesterday.
Analyzeあの店はまだあまり有名じゃない。
That shop isn't very well known yet.
Analyze先週はあまりよく眠れませんでした。
I couldn't sleep very well last week.
Analyze