This word shows you want to do something. It is like saying 'I will' or 'I shall' in English.
Verb + むPrimary
This word shows you want to do something. It is like saying 'I will' or 'I shall' in English.
いざ、行かむ。
Now, I shall go. / Come, let us go.
明日こそは都へ帰らむと心に決めた。
He decided in his heart that he would return to the capital the very next day.
故郷を思はむ心に、涙落ちにけり。
With a heart that yearns for my homeland, tears fell.
月を見むとて、縁側に出づ。
I go out onto the veranda, intending to watch the moon.
生きむとする者は死す。
Those who try to live will die. (A quote from Uesugi Kenshin)
This grammar is very old. You will only see it in old books or poems. Sometimes writers use it to make their words sound very serious or historical. You will not use it in everyday talk or writing.
This is different from the guessing form of 〜む. That form talks about what others might do. This form talks about what you will do. For example, 'I will go' uses this form. 'He will probably come' uses the guessing form. Also, 〜む became the modern 〜ん over time.
Don't use this when you talk in modern Japanese. This is an old way to speak. For example, don't say "I will eat" using 〜む.
Often confused with(1)
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