Japanese word

大して

Pronunciation

Romajitaishite

Meaning

  • adverbnot particularly

Example

その映画には大して興味がありません。so no ei ga ni wa tai shi te kyō mi ga a ri ma se n

I am not particularly interested in that movie.

Illustration for 大して (not particularly)

More examples

その問題は大して難しくありません。so no mon dai wa tai shi te muzuka shi ku a ri ma se n

That problem is not particularly difficult.

Core concept

Presents something as falling short of a noticeable level, so the statement sounds mild rather than absolute.

Common phrases

  • 大して変わらないtai shi te ka wa ra na i

    not change much

  • 大して気にしないtai shi te ki ni shi na i

    not care much

  • 大して重要ではないtai shi te jū yō de wa na i

    not particularly important

Similar words

あまりamari: Used with a negative expression to describe something as limited in degree or amount.
さほどsahodo: Used with a negative expression to indicate that something does not reach an expected degree.
それほどsorehodo: Used with a negative expression to describe something as less than the degree being discussed.
そんなにsonnani: Used with a negative expression to indicate that something does not reach the degree being discussed.

Definition in Japanese

程度が目立つほどではないことを表し、否定の表現を伴って特にというほどではない意を示す。tei do ga me da tsu ho do de wa na i ko to o arawa shi hi tei no hyō gen o tomona tte toku ni to i u ho do de wa na i i o shime su

Word origin

The form 大して (taishite) comes from 大した (taishita), meaning "significant" or "remarkable"; with negation, this sense becomes "not particularly" or "not very much".

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 大して (taishite) can sound dismissive when it evaluates something important to another person, so its effect depends on the relationship and context.

Other meanings

  • not very muchadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word