〜ぬ: This word shows that something has finished. It is like saying 'did' or 'was' in English.

Dictionary

〜ぬ

This word shows that something has finished. It is like saying 'did' or 'was' in English.

KMT10ArchaicStandardAuxiliary VerbWritten OnlyClassicalClassical Completion And PerfectiveGrammar

Verb [stem] + ぬPrimary

This word shows that something has finished. It is like saying 'did' or 'was' in English.

風立ちぬ。

The wind has risen.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeNature & Environment Anime & Manga Literature

はや舟に乗れ、日も暮れぬ。

Quickly, get in the boat! The sun has already set.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeHistory Literature

春来ぬと人は言へど、鶯の鳴かぬ限りはあらじとぞ思ふ。

Although people say spring has come, I think it is not so until the bush warbler sings.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeLiterature Nature & Environment

我が君を待ちわびて、心も疲れ果てぬ。

Having grown weary waiting for my lord, my spirit has become completely exhausted.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeLiterature Emotions & Psychology

かくして英雄は帰り来ぬ。

And so, the hero returned.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeLiterature History

This form shows something has finished. It can also show you just realized something. Or it can show you accept something. It is like a quiet 'Aha!' moment.

This is different from 〜つ. Both mean something is finished. But 〜ぬ is for things that happen naturally. Like the sun setting. 〜つ is for things you do on purpose. Like finishing homework.

Watch out: This 'nu' means 'finished'. It is not the old way to say 'not'. That old 'not' also used 'nu'. But they connect to verbs in different ways. Also, it has nothing to do with the word 'shinu', which means 'to die'.

Don't use this when you talk to friends. This is an old way to speak. You will see it in old books or songs. It makes things sound very formal or poetic.

Contrasts with(2)

〜つ

This shows an action is finished. It means something is done for sure. It is like saying 'already did'.

〜り

This shows something is in a certain state. This state happened because an action finished. It is like saying 'is doing' or 'has done'.

Dialect / slang variants(1)

〜たり

This shows an action is finished. Or it shows a state that continues after an action.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

〜ぬ

This is an old way to say "not." It means the same as the modern "〜ない."

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

Dictionary

〜ぬ

This word shows that something has finished. It is like saying 'did' or 'was' in English.

KMT10ArchaicStandardAuxiliary VerbWritten OnlyClassicalClassical Completion And PerfectiveGrammar

Verb [stem] + ぬPrimary

This word shows that something has finished. It is like saying 'did' or 'was' in English.

風立ちぬ。

The wind has risen.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeNature & Environment Anime & Manga Literature

はや舟に乗れ、日も暮れぬ。

Quickly, get in the boat! The sun has already set.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeHistory Literature

春来ぬと人は言へど、鶯の鳴かぬ限りはあらじとぞ思ふ。

Although people say spring has come, I think it is not so until the bush warbler sings.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeLiterature Nature & Environment

我が君を待ちわびて、心も疲れ果てぬ。

Having grown weary waiting for my lord, my spirit has become completely exhausted.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeLiterature Emotions & Psychology

かくして英雄は帰り来ぬ。

And so, the hero returned.

FormalPerfectiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeLiterature History

This form shows something has finished. It can also show you just realized something. Or it can show you accept something. It is like a quiet 'Aha!' moment.

This is different from 〜つ. Both mean something is finished. But 〜ぬ is for things that happen naturally. Like the sun setting. 〜つ is for things you do on purpose. Like finishing homework.

Don't use this when you talk to friends. This is an old way to speak. You will see it in old books or songs. It makes things sound very formal or poetic.

Contrasts with(2)

〜つ

This shows an action is finished. It means something is done for sure. It is like saying 'already did'.

〜り

This shows something is in a certain state. This state happened because an action finished. It is like saying 'is doing' or 'has done'.

Dialect / slang variants(1)

〜たり

This shows an action is finished. Or it shows a state that continues after an action.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

〜ぬ

This is an old way to say "not." It means the same as the modern "〜ない."

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜ぬ

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(2)

Dialect / slang variants(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜ぬ

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(2)

Dialect / slang variants(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery