別に
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Japanese[edit]
Kanji in this term |
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別 |
べつ Grade: 4 |
on’yomi |
Etymology[edit]
別 (betsu, “separate”) + に (ni, particle), literally separately, used idiomatically to mean something closer to especially.[1][2] Compare Korean 별로 (byeollo).
Pronunciation[edit]
Interjection[edit]
Usage notes[edit]
Generally only used in negative contexts. When used on its own, the negative sense is implied. Compare the meaning and usage of the English expression that much.
Adverb[edit]
- (not) especially, particularly
- 別に悪くない。
- Betsu ni warukunai.
- Not too bad.
- 別にいいじゃん。
- Betsu ni ii jan.
- So what? It's OK.
- 別に悪くない。
Usage notes[edit]
When used without an explicit negative polarity item, some negative meaning is generally implied: 別にいい (betsu ni ii, “[not] especially [bad], acceptably good”). Compare 全然 (zenzen, “[not] at all; totally”).
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Categories:
- Japanese terms spelled with 別 read as べつ
- Japanese terms read with on'yomi
- Japanese terms with IPA pronunciation
- Japanese lemmas
- Japanese interjections
- Japanese terms spelled with fourth grade kanji
- Japanese terms written with one Han script character
- Japanese terms with usage examples
- Japanese adverbs
- Japanese negative polarity items