I know I can say ときどき for sometimes and よく for often, but would よくじゃない be a
correct way to say “not often”? If not, how would one say “not often”?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-31T10:05:32.480
57636
2018-03-31T14:59:36.993
29369
question
grammar word-choice
Is よくじゃない correct for “not often”?
While 「よくじゃない」("Not often."), all by itself, might actually be uttered by some
in very informal conversations, it would also be considered to be fairly
sloppy speech by others. It sounds kind of **_curt_** all by itself.

I would recommend that you add a little word or two to it to avoid that and
say instead:

・「よくじゃない **けど** 、 **ときどき** ・・」

・「よく **では** ない **けど** 、 **たまに** ・・」

・「よく **ってわけ** じゃない **けど** 、 **（たまには）** ・・」

You would sound like a much better conversationalist if you said one of the
above instead.
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2018-03-31T12:42:38.297
57645
2018-03-31T14:42:14.647
2018-03-31T14:42:14.647
7810
57636
answer
“not often” is usually translated as "あまりしない". I don't think "よくじゃない" is
common phrase. However, when you are asked "よく旅行する?", it wouldn't be unnatural
that you answer like "よくじゃないけど、たまに。".
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-31T14:59:36.993
57646
2018-03-31T14:59:36.993
7320
57636
answer