なかなか

な

か

な

か

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

adverb, na-adjective

quite; considerably; rather; fairly

usually written using kana alone

Affirmative degree adverb meaning that something is more than slight or better than expected. As なかなかだ, it can also mean that something is quite good or not bad.

この店みせのカレーはなかなかおいしい。
The curry at this restaurant is quite good.
彼かれは若わかいのに、なかなか仕し事ごとが早はやい。
He is young, but he works quite fast.

adverb

not easily; not readily; by no means

usually written using kana alone

Used with a negative verb as なかなか〜ない, often implying frustration, delay, or resistance: something does not happen as easily as expected.

バスがなかなか来こない。
The bus just won't come.
彼かれはなかなか本ほん音ねを話はなさない。
He does not readily say what he really thinks.

noun

middle; halfway point

Rare noun use meaning the middle or midpoint. In modern Japanese this is largely replaced by words such as 中ほど, 途中, or 半ば.

古ふるい用よう法ほうでは、「道みちのなかなか」が道みちの途と中ちゅうを指さすことがある。
In older usage, 道のなかなか can refer to the middle of the road or journey.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

excellent; very good; quite something

usually written using kana alone

Used before a noun as なかなかの〜 to praise something or describe it as considerable, impressive, or better than expected.

彼かの女じょはなかなかの腕うで前まえだ。
She has considerable skill.
これはなかなかの名めい案あんだ。
This is quite a good idea.

See all 635 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

なかなか〈動どう詞し〉ないnot easily do something; something doesn't happen as expected
バスがなかなか来こない。
The bus just isn't coming.
なかなかの〈物もの〉quite an impressive ~; a considerable ~
彼かれの料りょう理りの腕うではなかなかのものだ。
His cooking skills are quite impressive.
なかなか〈形けい容よう詞し〉quite/rather (adjective)
この問もん題だいはなかなか難むずかしい。
This problem is quite difficult.

Expressions

なかなかどうしてsurprisingly; unexpectedly; considerably

Kanji

中in, inside, middle
仲go-between, relationship
却instead, on the contrary, rather

Related words

かなりN4sense 1
かなり is a plain degree adverb meaning 'quite/considerably', while なかなか often adds a nuance that something is better, stronger, or more difficult than expected.
とてもN4sense 1
とても is a straightforward intensifier meaning 'very', whereas なかなか can be milder or evaluative, and also appears in the negative pattern なかなか〜ない which とても cannot form.
結けっ構こうN5sense 1
けっこう is a casual, everyday way to say 'quite/fairly', while なかなか carries a slightly more formal or admiring tone, especially in なかなかの〜 constructions.

Opposites

すぐN4
すぐ(に)〜できる means something happens easily, while なかなか〜できない means it stubbornly refuses to happen easily.

Written forms

なかなかUsage96%
Practical modern spelling. The main adverbial and evaluative uses is usually written in kana.
中なか々なかUsage3%
Common attested kanji spelling, especially in more written or stylized contexts; kana is usually safer in everyday writing.
仲なか々なかUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Marked as a rarely used kanji form; useful mainly for recognition.
ナカナカUsage<1%
中なか中なかUsage<1%
Attested spelling using repeated 中 instead of the iteration mark; less practical for learners than なかなか or 中々.
却なか々なかUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Marked as a rarely used kanji form; useful mainly for recognition.
仲なか仲なかUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Marked as a rarely used kanji form; useful mainly for recognition.
却なか却なか
rarely-used kanji form
Marked as a rarely used kanji form; useful mainly for recognition.

Etymology

The kanji spellings such as 中々 reflect a repeated 中, but the modern adverb なかなか is lexicalized and usually written in kana. The precise historical development of the degree and negative-pattern uses is uncertain.