別に～ない（べつに～ない）

About

The 別べつに〜ない pattern is used to describe that something is "not particularly X/no especially X".

For this pattern, 別べつに may be combined with a negative verb, adjective, or じゃない・ではない.

E.g. 別べつに嫌きらいではないけど、得意とくいでもない。 "I don't especially dislike it, but I'm not good at it either."

E.g. 別べつに大たいしたことありません。 "It's not really a big deal."

E.g. 部長ぶちょうが遅刻ちこくしたなんて、別べつに驚おどろくことじゃない。 "It's not really surprising that the manager was late."

In certain contexts, the negative verb/じゃない・ではない can be omitted, leaving 別べつに on its own.

E.g. 別べつになんでもいいよ。 "Anything is fine."

別べつに is commonly combined with 〜わけではない, to deepen the clarifying tone when saying that "X is not really/especially/etc. the case".

E.g. あの人ひとは別べつに優やさしいわけではないのに、すごくモテる。 "Even though it's not that that person is particularly kind, they're very popular."

Summary

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  The 別べつに〜ない pattern is used to describe that something is "not particularly X/no especially X"

• 

  別べつに may be combined with a negative verb, adjective, or じゃない・ではない

• 

  In certain contexts, the negative verb/じゃない・ではない can be omitted

• 

  別べつに is commonly combined with 〜わけではない, to deepen the clarifying tone