This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.
Verb [ない-form]Primary
This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.
時間がないから、急ごう。
We don't have time, so let's hurry.
食べない子供が多くて心配だ。
I'm worried that there are many children who don't eat.
危ないから、そこには入らないでください。
It's dangerous, so please don't enter there.
彼はまだ来ないかもしれない。
He might not have arrived yet.
This is how you make a verb negative. For most verbs, change the last 'u' sound to an 'a' sound. Then add 'ない'. For example, 'kaku' (to write) becomes 'kakanai' (don't write). If a verb ends in 'eru' or 'iru', remove the 'ru'. Then add 'nai'. For example, 'taberu' (to eat) becomes 'tabenai' (don't eat). 'Suru' (to do) becomes 'shinai'. 'Kuru' (to come) becomes 'konai'. If a verb ends in 'u', change it to 'wa'. Then add 'nai'. For example, 'iu' (to say) becomes 'iwanai' (don't say).
This is different from 〜ません (masen). Both mean "not do". But ない is plain. 〜ません is polite. ない is only for now or the future. For the past, you use 〜なかった (nakatta).
Watch out: 'ある' means 'to exist' for things that are not alive. Its negative is 'ない'. Do not say 'あらない'. 'いる' means 'to exist' for living things. Its negative is 'いない'. This is a normal verb ending.
Use this when you talk with friends or family. You can also ask a simple question. Just say it with a rising tone, like 'Aren't you going?'
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