N3 — outside your level filter
決して〜ない
けっして〜ないkesshite naiN3neutral
All examples7
never; by no means — denies it for good, as promise or warning
一度した約束は、決して破らない。
ichido shita yakusoku wa, kesshite yaburanai.
A promise once made is one I never break. neutral
このことは決して誰にも言わないでね。
kono koto wa kesshite dare ni mo iwanaide ne.
Don't ever tell anyone about this, OK? casual
お預かりした個人情報を、決して外部に開示いたしません。
o azukari shita kojin jouhou o, kesshite gaibu ni kaiji itashimasen.
We will never disclose the personal information entrusted to us to any outside party. formal
by no means — heads off a judgement someone is about to make
この値段は決して安くない。
kono nedan wa kesshite yasukunai.
This price is by no means cheap. neutral
うちの会社、決して大きくないけど、居心地はいいよ。
uchi no kaisha, kesshite ookikunai kedo, igokochi wa ii yo.
Our company isn't big by any stretch, but it's a comfortable place to be. casual
今回の試験は決して簡単ではありませんでした。
konkai no shiken wa kesshite kantan de wa arimasen deshita.
This time's exam was by no means easy. neutral
今の話は決して冗談ではない。
ima no hanashi wa kesshite joudan de wa nai.
What I have just said is by no means a joke. neutral
How it's formed4
All forms1
けっしてkesshitealternant
the kana spelling. Common in casual writing and dialogue, while print uses the kanji 決.