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    全然間に合わない (zenzen maniawanai) - won't make it in time at all

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    neutral

    How it works

    This expression combines the emphatic adverb 「全然 (zenzen)」, which primarily reinforces negative statements, with the negative form of the verb 「間に合う (maniau)」, meaning 'to be on time' or 'to make it in time'. The resultant 「間に合わない (maniawanai)」 means 'won't be on time', and 「全然」 intensifies this negation to 'absolutely won't' or 'not at all'.

    Sample sentences

    このペースじゃ、締め切りに全然間に合わないよ。

    At this pace, I won't make it to the deadline at all.

    電車が遅延しているので、会議に全然間に合わないかもしれない。

    The train is delayed, so I might not make it to the meeting at all.

    準備不足で、イベント開始に全然間に合わない状況だ。

    Due to lack of preparation, we are in a situation where we won't be ready for the event's start at all.

    Quick facts

    verb_form:「間に合わない」is the casual negative form of the verb 「間に合う」. For a more polite negative, it would be 「間に合いません (maniaimasen)」, leading to 「全然間に合いません」.
    usage_of_zenzen:Traditionally, 全然 was used exclusively with negative predicates. However, in modern casual Japanese, it is increasingly used with positive predicates for emphasis (e.g., 全然大丈夫 - completely fine), though some consider this usage informal or grammatically incorrect. In this expression, it adheres to its traditional negative-reinforcing role.

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    このペースじゃ、締め切りに全然間に合わないよ。

    At this pace, I won't make it to the deadline at all.

    電車が遅延しているので、会議に全然間に合わないかもしれない。

    The train is delayed, so I might not make it to the meeting at all.

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