Japanese with Manga

Not understanding at all with 全然〜ない

Grammar Explanation: Not at all with 全然〜ない

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Not understanding at all with 全然〜ない.
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During an underwater-breath-holding contest, Cocoa begins a game of charades.

シャロ:
「全然(ぜんぜん)わからない」
“I don't understand at all.”
Literal: “I do not understand at all.”
リゼ:
「ナルシストか？」
“A narcissist?”

Key Points

1全然(ぜんぜん)〜ない means not at all
  • 全然(ぜんぜん) works with negative わからない to deny any understanding of Cocoa’s gestures.
2わからない describes failure to understand
  • The subject “I” and object “what you mean” are omitted because Syaro is reacting to the charades in front of her.
3ナルシストか is a blunt noun question
  • The short noun-plus-か reaction omits any polite です and makes Rize’s disbelief sound sharp.

Vocabulary

(Not at all)

全然(ぜんぜん) means not at all when used with a negative expression. In casual modern speech, it can also strengthen an affirmative statement to mean completely or entirely.

See Also

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