Barely not

[Xinfu]

What should be the answer?

Q: So you barely have time for studying?
A: Yes. (=Yes, you're right. I barely have time for studying)

Or

A: No. (=No, I don't. I barely have time for studying.)

[Rusty]

The affirmative is used to state that not much time is available for studying.

Responding 'no' throws 'barely' out, meaning that there is time for studying.

[Xinfu]

Thank you. But we substitute hardly for barely, would your answer be different?

[Rusty]

Nope, it would not make any difference. Hardly and barely are synonyms. The affirmative answer confirms that there isn't much time. The negative answer means that the person believes just the opposite of what was stated-that there is time.

[Xinfu]

Thank you.