JLPT N2 grammar

なかなかmeaning and usage

Meaning

It is hard to do A; A is not easily done/accomplished

How to form it

  • なかなかverb (nai-form)

How it is used

With a negative verb, it says something won't happen however much one wants it to: 'just won't', 'not easily'. It carries impatience or frustration. With a positive form it means something else: 'quite', 'pretty'.

Examples

  1. 私は正直な気持ちをなかなか話せない。

    It's hard for me to speak about my real feelings.

  2. バスがなかなか来ないので、歩いて帰ることにした。

    The bus just wouldn't come, so I decided to walk home.

  3. 夜遅くにコーヒーを飲んだら、なかなか眠れなかった。

    I had coffee late at night, and it took me ages to fall asleep.