(not) particularly; (not) especially; (not) very; (not) much
Used with a negative predicate to mean 'not particularly', 'not very', or 'not much'. Common in formal or written contexts.
This problem is not particularly difficult.
This problem isn't particularly difficult.
His story was not especially interesting.
He didn't seem to particularly care about the result.
The two proposals aren't very different.
あまり is the most common, casual word for 'not very' and can also appear in a few positive idioms, whereas さして sounds more formal and is used only with negatives.
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 然して is rare.
Rare kanji spelling; learners should use the kana form.
Derived from the verb 然す (さす, 'to do so') in its continuative form. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it became an adverb used with negatives.