Kanji Homophone Battle
Pronunciation Trap: "まったく (mattaku)"
Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.
Kanji Option A
まったく
まったく (mattaku)
N4 / CEFR
VS
Kanji Option B
全く
まったく (mattaku)
N3 / CEFR
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "まったく (mattaku)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.
- まったく (Level: N4): Translates to "entirely; truly; indeed; (not) at all (with negative)" and is used when Can be used with positive meanings like "truly" or "really," but very frequently used with negative verbs/adjectives to mean "not at all" or "completely." E.g., 「まったくわからない」.
- 全く (Level: N3): Maps to "completely; entirely; truly; (with negative) not at all" and carries the nuance of Refers to a state being completely/entirely so, or expressing complete disagreement/agreement. When used with negative verbs, means 'not at all'.
Bilingual Context for "まったく"
彼の話は、私にはまったく理解できませんでした。
I couldn't understand his story at all.
Bilingual Context for "全く"
最新世代のスマートエコ冷却ファンを搭載した結果、サーバー起動時の高負荷な騒音が_______聞こえなくなりました。
As a result of equipping the latest generation smart eco-friendly cooling fan, the high-load noise at the time of server startup has completely stopped being heard at all.
Kanji Selection Quiz
Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?
Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼の話は、私には ＿＿＿ 理解できませんでした。" (Meaning: "I couldn't understand his story at all.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Correct! "まったく" is used for "entirely; truly; indeed; (not) at all (with negative)" in the context: "I couldn't understand his story at all.".