なかなか (nakanaka)

Meaning & usage

なかなか is an adverb that pairs with a negative verb to mean something does not happen easily or takes a long time, as in なかなか言わない or なかなかなじめなかった. It can also intensify difficulty before hard-to-attain expressions like 得がたい. It precedes the verb or adjective directly.

Example sentences 8

1. 私わたしは数学すうがくでは彼かれにはなかなかかなわないことがわかった。

   I found it very difficult to come up to him in mathematics.

2. いまどき良い仕事はなかなか得がたいのを忘れないでね。

   Don't forget that good jobs are very hard to come by these days.

3. 彼は頭はいいのだけれど、なかなか自分の意見を言わない。

   Bright as he is, he is slow in giving his opinions.

4. 彼は新しい学校での生活になかなかなじめなかった。

   He found it very difficult to adjust himself to life in the new school.

5. 強いコーヒー一杯がなければなかなか目が覚めない。

   It is hard to wake up without a strong cup of coffee.

6. 彼女自分をけなすことではなかなかのものですよ。

   She has a nice line in self-deprecation.

7. 彼女は頭は悪いけど、なかなかいい体してるよ。

   She is not smart, but she is built.

8. 彼女はなかなかやるようだが、一流じゃないね。

   She's pretty good at it, but she lacks class.