別に・とても～ない: Not really... not at all!

Introduction

Today we'll be taking a look at two ways we can modify negative statements. In case, you know, you want to be a little less, or a little more, negative.

別べつに～ない: Not really that (bad)!

構成こうせい

• 

  別べつに～Negative verb/adjective/noun
  Example:
  → 別べつに悪わるくない。
  "It's actually not bad.”

You may know that 「別べつ」 can mean "separate", as in 「別々べつべつ」 ("separate") or 「トマトは別べつの皿さらにのせてください」 ("Please put the tomatoes on a separate plate"). But did you know that it can also mean "(not) particularly..." or "not especially..."? Well, it can!

Attachment

To use 別べつに for describing that something is "not especially X", we simply combine it with the に particle, and a negative verb/adjective or じゃない・ではない.