Learn Hardcore Japanese: konsyuu ha amari ziyuuna zikan ga arimasen.

It marks the topic: “As for this week…”. It often carries a contrastive nuance, implying “This week (as opposed to other times)”. So the sentence focuses the statement within the time frame of this week.

Why is あまり used with a negative?

In everyday Japanese, あまり pairs with a negative to mean “not much/very.” Example pattern: あまり + verb/adjective (negative) → “not very X.” Here, あまり … ありません = “there isn’t much.” In affirmative sentences, あまり is usually written as あまりに (“too/excessively”), e.g., あまりに高い.

Where should あまり go? Before 自由な時間 or before ありません?

Both are natural:

今週は自由な時間があまりありません。
今週はあまり自由な時間がありません。 You’ll also hear the shorter 今週は時間があまりありません。 All three sound fine; there’s no big nuance difference.

Why is 自由 followed by な here?

自由 is a na-adjective (and a noun). When it directly modifies a noun, it takes な: 自由な時間 = “free time (time that is free).” As a predicate: 時間は自由です。 No な there.

What’s the difference between 自由な時間 and 暇?

暇 is “spare/leisure time,” implying you’re not busy. Pattern: 暇がない = “I’m busy; I have no spare time.”
自由な時間 is “time you can use freely,” i.e., unscheduled time. You might still be busy overall but have some flexible blocks. Both are common; choose based on nuance.

Why does 時間 take が? Could I use を or は?

With existence/possession expressions using ある/ない, the thing that “exists/you have” takes が: 時間がない. を is not used with ある/ない. You can say 時間はあまりありません, but that makes “time” the topic/contrast (e.g., “As for time, there isn’t much”).

Why ありません and not いません?

ある/ありません is for inanimate/non-living things; いる/いません is for living beings. 時間 is inanimate, so ありません is correct.

How would I say this casually?

Polite → casual: 今週はあまり自由な時間がない。
Even more casual: 今週、自由な時間あんまりない。 (colloquial あんまり; often drops が)
Very short: 今週は時間ない。

Can I add 私? Where do I put it?

You can, but it’s usually omitted if obvious. Natural options:

私は今週、あまり自由な時間がありません。 (use a comma instead of repeating は)
今週はあまり自由な時間がありません。 (subject understood as “I” from context)

Is ございません okay here? What about ないです?

ありません: standard polite.
ないです: semi-polite/casual-polite; common in conversation.
ございません: more formal/polite; fine with inanimate nouns, often in business or announcements. All are acceptable depending on formality.

Could I say 少ないです instead of あまり…ありません?

Yes: 今週は自由な時間が少ないです。 It’s a bit more direct (“there’s little”) than the softer あまり…ない (“not much”). Both are natural.

How do あまり, ほとんど, and 全然 compare?

あまりありません: not much.
ほとんどありません: almost none.
全然ありません: none at all.
Choose based on how strong you want the negation.

Is 今週に grammatical here?

Not in this sentence. Time words like 今週 commonly appear without a particle, or as a topic with は. 今週に is used in specific structures (e.g., 今週に入って), but not simply to say “this week” as a time frame here.

Is 自由時間 a correct alternative to 自由な時間?

自由時間 exists and is used, especially for scheduled “free period” contexts (schools, timetables). In everyday talk about your personal schedule, 自由な時間 or 暇 is more idiomatic. 今週は自由時間があまりありません is understandable but a bit less natural in casual conversation.

Any pronunciation gotchas?

は (topic particle) is pronounced “wa.”
Readings: 今週（こんしゅう）, あまり, 自由（じゆう）, 時間（じかん）, ありません.
Make sure 自由 has a long “yuu” sound.

Are spaces normal in Japanese writing?

No. They’re added here for learners. The normal spelling is 今週はあまり自由な時間がありません。

How do I emphasize contrast like “This week (as opposed to other weeks)”?

Using 今週は already suggests contrast. You can reinforce it with context or adverbs like 特に: 今週は特に、あまり自由な時間がありません。

What’s the literal structure?

Topic (今週は) + subject (自由な時間が) + negative existence (ありません). Literally, “As for this week, free time does not exist (much),” which corresponds to “I don’t have much free time this week.”

Can I say 自由がありません?

That means “I have no freedom” (lack of liberty), not “no free time.” For “free time,” keep 自由な時間 or use 暇: 自由な時間がありません／暇がありません。

What about 自由な時間はあまりありません?

Also correct. Using は on 自由な時間 makes it the topic and can add contrast, e.g., “As for free time, I don’t have much (but I may have other kinds of time/resources).”