余り

あまり
Alternative readings: あんまり
Alternative writings: 餘り, 剰り
JLPT:N5
Frequency:
1

The remainder; leftover; surplus (e.g., leftovers from a meal or remaining amount).

NounNoun Taking 'の'Usually Kana

Examples

ご飯のあまりをタッパーに入れて冷蔵庫へ入れた。

I put the leftover rice in a container and put it in the fridge.

予算の余りは次の会議で報告します。

We will report any remaining budget at the next meeting.

2

(Used with negative sentences) not very; not much.

AdverbUsually Kana

Examples

この映画はあまり面白くなかった。

This movie wasn't very interesting.

彼はあまり勉強していないようだ。

He doesn't seem to study much.

あまり気にしないでください。

Don't worry about it too much.

3

Too much; excessively; overly (often used as あまりに or あまりにも).

AdverbUsually Kana

Examples

あまりに暑くて倒れそうだった。

It was so hot I felt like collapsing.

彼の失敗を責めるのはあまりだ。

It's too harsh to blame him for his mistake.

4

Used after a noun (〜のあまり) to indicate an extreme degree of an emotion or condition (e.g., to be overwhelmed by grief).

Na-AdjectiveNoun Taking 'の'

Examples

悲しみの余り、声も出なかった。

She was so grief-stricken that she couldn't speak.

嬉しさのあまり、涙が出た。

Overcome with joy, tears came to my eyes.

5

Colloquially used to mean 'not very good' or 'so-so' in casual speech.

Na-AdjectiveColloquial

Examples

昨日行ったレストラン、あまりだったよ。

The restaurant we went to yesterday wasn't very good.

彼のパフォーマンスはあまりだった(期待外れだった)。

His performance was disappointing / not great.

6

Used as a suffix meaning 'more than' or 'over' (e.g., 一時間余り = over an hour).

Noun (Suffix)

Examples

会議は三時間余り続いた。

The meeting lasted a little over three hours.

彼は一万円余りを財布に入れていた。

He had a little over 10,000 yen in his wallet.

Word Relationships

Synonyms