Translation and Meaning of: 余り - anmari

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 余り (anmari) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: anmari

Kana: あんまり

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

余り

Translation / Meaning: not a lot; left over; rest; remaining; surplus; balance; remains; leftovers; waste; fullness; other; too much.

Meaning in English: not very (this form only used as adverb);not much;remainder;rest;remnant;surplus;balance;excess;remains;scraps;residue;fullness;other;too much

Definition: Something that exceeds its scope or appropriate quantity.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (余り) anmari

The Japanese word 「余り」, romanized as "amari" or "anmari" in its colloquial form, carries a deep meaning, referring to something that is a leftover or excess. Originally, the etymology of 「余り」 comes from the Chinese characters, where 「余」 means "leftover" or "extra," and it is a semantic combination with 「り」, which has no independent meaning but acts as a grammatical suffix. The adverbial form 「あんまり」 is more common in informal conversations, commonly translated as "not much" or "not so much," used to indicate the infrequency or magnitude of an action or event.

The use of 「余り」 is not limited to situations of physical quantities. In Japanese culture, the idea of excess is often seen with a negative connotation, especially in a social context where balance and moderation are highly valued. Therefore, 「余り」 can imply something that is beyond what is necessary or desirable, and it may even suggest the potential for waste or carelessness, which is undesirable in many aspects of everyday life. Additionally, when 「余り」 is combined with verbs in their negative form, such as in 「余りない」 (amarinai), it indicates low frequency or scarcity.

From a linguistic perspective, the flexibility of words in contextual variations demonstrates the richness of the Japanese language. For example, in narratives or poetic expressions, one can find 「余る」 (amaru), the verbal form that means "to remain" or "to be left over." This verbal inflection is often used in texts to describe persistent quantities, whether in food, feelings, or any situations where something is not depleted. Thus, through various forms and contexts, 「余り」 and its variants play a vital role in daily communication, expressing both abundance and moderation.

Synonyms and similar words

残り (nokori) - Remaining, what is left
余剰 (yojou) - Excess, something that remains beyond what is necessary
過剰 (kajou) - Excess, in a quantity that can be undesirable
過多 (kata) - Excessive amount, more than necessary
過度 (kado) - Excessive in degree, intensity, or limit
余波 (yoha) - Consequences, remnants of something that happened
余韻 (yoin) - Residue, echo, or lasting effect of an experience
余地 (yochi) - Space, margin, or additional possibility
余裕 (yoyuu) - Additional capacity, safety margin
余暇 (yoka) - Free time, leisure time
余興 (yokyou) - Additional entertainment, extra performance
余計 (yokei) - Excess, something that is more than necessary, often in a negative way.
余分 (yobun) - Excess, the part that is more than a whole
余談 (yodan) - Additional comment, digression
余計なお世話 (yokei na osewa) - Unwanted interference, intrusiveness
余命 (yomei) - Life expectancy, remaining life time
余儀なくされる (yogi naku sareru) - Being forced to do something, having no choice but to
余所見 (yosomi) - Looking elsewhere, distraction