What is the difference between よくない yokunai and だめ (dame) * (yokunai) is defined as not good * (dame) is also defined as not good Please could you explain the difference by explicitly making reference to the following examples: **Example 1a** dokomo yokunai desu none of the places are good **Example 1b** kazoku wa saikin amari un ga yokunai. Our family is not having much luck lately! **Example 2** It was a no good hotel. Dame na hoteru deshita. I know that ​ (warui) also means "not good", but it has the added meaning of bad, sinful, and so is a stronger form. Please keep your explanation relatively simple as I am a beginner. Please could you make reference to the above examples. Please also explain a general rule for knowing when to use one over the other.

(dame) has a connotation of being not allowed, or so bad that it's just unacceptable. (yokunai) is simply something that is the opposite of good (ii) and carries a bit less force.

* In the first example, you could substitute 'dame' for a more forceful tone.
* In the second example the use with 'amari' really requires a negative so 'yokunai' is the preferred option.
* In the third example you could use 'dame' as per the example and it would indicate that this hotel was really bad (and it would be assumed you didn't stay there, or wouldn't in the future as it is unacceptable). If you were to use 'yokunai' in this sentence it would suggest that it just wasn't great.