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一向

いっこう

(with a negative) not at all; not in the least; utterly

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 薬を飲んだが一向に良くならない。

    くすりをのんだがいっこうによくならない。

    I took the medicine, but I'm not getting any better at all.

  2. 何度説明しても一向に分かってくれない。

    なんどせつめいしてもいっこうにわかってくれない。

    No matter how often I explain, he simply doesn't get it.

  3. 雨は一向にやむ気配がなく、試合は中止になった。

    あめはいっこうにやむけはいがなく、しあいはちゅうしになった。

    There was no sign whatsoever of the rain letting up, so the match was called off.

Common patterns

一向に〜ない
not ... in the slightest
一向に構わない
I don't mind in the least
一向に進まない
makes no progress at all

Memory tip

Nearly always 一向に plus a negative, and it carries a note of exasperation at something that refuses to change. The positive-looking 一向に構いません still contains a negative idea ('not a problem at all'). Reading it ひたすら is an old, now rare usage; modern Japanese writes that word in kana.

Kanji in this word

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What does 一向 mean?