Language/Japanese/Grammar/Negation
Hi Japanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing the basics of negation in Japanese. Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. We will look at the different ways to express negation in Japanese, as well as some examples of how to use them. So let's get started!
Negation in Japanese
Negation in Japanese is expressed in a variety of ways. The most common way to express negation is by using the particle 「ない」 (nai). This particle is used to indicate that something does not exist or is not true. For example:
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 私は日本語を話せない | Watashi wa nihongo o hanasenai | I cannot speak Japanese |
| 彼は学生ではない | Kare wa gakusei dewa nai | He is not a student |
| これは私のではない | Kore wa watashi no dewa nai | This is not mine |
| 彼女は来ない | Kanojo wa konai | She is not coming |
| 私は行かない | Watashi wa ikanai | I am not going |
The particle 「ない」 can also be combined with other verbs to form negative forms. For example, the verb 「行く」 (iku) meaning "to go" can be combined with 「ない」 to form 「行かない」 (ikanai) meaning "not to go". Similarly, the verb 「話す」 (hanasu) meaning "to speak" can be combined with 「ない」 to form 「話せない」 (hanasenai) meaning "cannot speak".
Another way to express negation in Japanese is by using the particle 「ず」 (zu). This particle is used to indicate that something is not done or not the case. For example:
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 私は日本語を話さずにいる | Watashi wa nihongo o hanasazu ni iru | I am not speaking Japanese |
| 彼は学生じゃない | Kare wa gakusei ja nai | He is not a student |
| これは私のじゃない | Kore wa watashi no ja nai | This is not mine |
| 彼女は来ない | Kanojo wa konai | She is not coming |
| 私は行かない | Watashi wa ikanai | I am not going |
The particle 「ず」 can also be combined with other verbs to form negative forms. For example, the verb 「行く」 (iku) meaning "to go" can be combined with 「ず」 to form 「行かず」 (ikazu) meaning "not to go". Similarly, the ve