If you were saying "I am strong at Japanese"
Do you use the particle 'は’ or 'が’
eg1. 私は日本語はとくいです。
eg2.私は日本語がとくいです。
Or can the 'が’ particle only be used in this context when you are saying "My Japanese is good"
- 私の日本語がとくい です。
Thanks!
Only example two is grammatically correct.
Your first example, and your last sentence are incorrect.
Hokiksyo explained it well.
Does the term 'あまり’ mean "not really" and "very much"
How would you know when which definition is being used?
And also can it be spelled 'あんまり’ as well?
I guess usually depending on context and the rest of the sentence?
あまり美味しくない = Not very tasty.
あまり疲れた = Very tired.
あまり is more common than あんまり, but yes they mean the same thing.
The confusing thing is, often people use あまり in a sentence like "Don't overdo it". So the sentence ends with a negative, but the あまり is the "very much" version that indicates something is excessive.
e.g. あまり無理するな or あまり無理しないで = "Don't overdo it" or "Don't work excessively".
Considering this, I think the easiest way to think of あまり is as "very".
あまり美味しくない =
very not tasty --> Not very tasty.
あまり疲れた =
very tired --> Very tired.
あまり無理しないで =
very overwork don't --> Don't overdo it.