Meaning

Primary

Very

Alternatives

Considerably, Quite

Word Type

adverb

Explanation

The symbol just repeats the kanji that comes before it. You'll see it from time to time, so take note of it, even though it doesn't really have any meaning of its own. So, essentially 中々 is the same as 中中. That being said, you have something that's middle x2. When something is even more middle than middle itself, it is very or considerably something or another.

Reading

なかなか
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for this word is the kun'yomi reading, since it's like putting two single kanji together rather than a true jukugo word. To learn the kun'yomi reading, take a look at this mnemonic:

From the middle of the middle comes a sound. It is a knocking sound. Knock. Knock. Knock. You open up the walls around this thing. Then you open up the second set of walls (middle of the middle). Inside is an old man, who identifies himself as "the knocker." You go inside of him and find another knocker as well. That's why it's a knocker knocker (なかなか).

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 中々むずかしい

    very difficult

    中々できない

    to be hard to do

    中々ない

    quite rare

Context Sentences

このカレー、中々おいしいですね。

This curry is delicious.

一月のテストは中々むずかしかった。

The test in January was quite difficult.

このカードは中々レアなので一千ドルぐらいしますよ。

This card is rare and it costs about 1,000 dollars.

Kanji Composition