〜まい: This means you strongly decide not to do something. It can also mean something probably will not happen.

Dictionary

〜まい

This means you strongly decide not to do something. It can also mean something probably will not happen.

KMT8CasualSlangAuxiliary ConstructionSpoken OnlyTohokuOlder SpeakersTohoku Verb Endings And NegationGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + まいPrimary

Verb [stem] + まい

This means you strongly decide not to do something. It can also mean something probably will not happen.

もう二度とあんなことは言うまい。

I will never say such a thing again.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingVolitionalEmotions & Psychology

おら、今日は畑仕事さ行くまい。雨降りそうだ。

I'm not gonna go work in the fields today. It looks like it's going to rain.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingVolitionalWork & Career Weather & Geography

あんなひどい映画はもう見るまいと心に誓った。

I swore to myself that I would never watch such a terrible movie again.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMusic & Entertainment

たぶん、彼は約束の時間には来まい。いつも遅れるからな。

He probably won't come at the promised time. He's always late, you know.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life

諦めまいという気持ちが、彼を最後まで支えた。

The feeling of 'I will not give up' supported him until the very end.

FormalPastNegativePrenominalDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

This word feels a bit old-fashioned in standard Japanese. It is like something you would hear in a formal speech. But in some areas, people use it every day. It shows they really mean not to do something.

This is different from "〜べ" (〜be). "〜べ" means you will do something. "〜まい" means you will not. It is also different from "〜ねぇ" (〜nee). "〜ねぇ" just says you are not doing something. "〜まい" shows a strong decision not to do it.

Don't use this when you are not sure how to attach it to a verb. For example, '食べまい' is correct, but '食べるまい' is also okay. For 'する', you can say 'しまい' or 'するまい'. For '来る', you can say 'こまい' or 'くるまい'.

Contrasts with(1)

〜べ

This word means 'let's do something' or 'I will do something'. People in Eastern Japan use it a lot.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

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.

意向形 (よう / う)

This form means 'let's do' something. You use it to suggest an action or invite someone to do it with you.

〜だろう

This is how you say you are guessing something. It means 'probably' or 'I think so'. You are not 100% sure.

ない形

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.

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Dictionary

〜まい

This means you strongly decide not to do something. It can also mean something probably will not happen.

KMT8CasualSlangAuxiliary ConstructionSpoken OnlyTohokuOlder SpeakersTohoku Verb Endings And NegationGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + まいPrimary

Verb [stem] + まい

This means you strongly decide not to do something. It can also mean something probably will not happen.

もう二度とあんなことは言うまい。

I will never say such a thing again.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingVolitionalEmotions & Psychology

おら、今日は畑仕事さ行くまい。雨降りそうだ。

I'm not gonna go work in the fields today. It looks like it's going to rain.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingVolitionalWork & Career Weather & Geography

あんなひどい映画はもう見るまいと心に誓った。

I swore to myself that I would never watch such a terrible movie again.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMusic & Entertainment

たぶん、彼は約束の時間には来まい。いつも遅れるからな。

He probably won't come at the promised time. He's always late, you know.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life

諦めまいという気持ちが、彼を最後まで支えた。

The feeling of 'I will not give up' supported him until the very end.

FormalPastNegativePrenominalDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

Contrasts with(1)

〜べ

This word means 'let's do something' or 'I will do something'. People in Eastern Japan use it a lot.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

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.

意向形 (よう / う)

This form means 'let's do' something. You use it to suggest an action or invite someone to do it with you.

〜だろう

This is how you say you are guessing something. It means 'probably' or 'I think so'. You are not 100% sure.

ない形

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.

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.

〜まい

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with1

Contrasts with(1)

Prerequisites5

Track your mastery

〜まい

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with1

Contrasts with(1)

Prerequisites5

Track your mastery