別に

Japanese
Kanji in this term
別
べつ
Grade: 4
on’yomi

Etymology

別 (betsu, “separate”) + に (ni, particle), literally separately, used idiomatically to mean something closer to especially.[1][2] Compare Korean 별로 (byeollo).

Pronunciation

Interjection

別に (hiragana べつに, rōmaji betsu ni)

  1. nothing special; not really
    「店 (みせ)に行 (い)きたい？」「いや、別 (べつ)に。」
    “Mise ni ikitai?” “Iya, betsu ni.”
    "Do you want to go to the store?" "Eh, not really."

Usage notes

Generally only used in negative contexts. When used on its own, the negative is sense implied. Compare the meaning and usage of the English expression that much.

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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