~まい
〜mai
JLPT N2 Very formal, literary
Formation
Verb-dictionary form + まい
Express a negative conjecture or determination; 'probably not' or 'I will not'.
When to use
Formal, literary negative conjecture - "probably not/I won't" - the negative counterpart to だろう.
Explanation
The ~まい grammar point is used to express a negative conjecture or a strong determination not to do something. In modern usage, it is generally used with the dictionary form of verbs (来る -> 来るまい, する -> するまい, etc.). It can be translated as 'probably not' or 'I will not' in English.
Example sentences
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He probably won't come tonight.
Kare wa konban kuru mai.
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Being this late, I probably won't make it for the train.
Konnani okurete wa, densha ni maniau mai.
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That person will definitely not forget.
Ano hito wa zettai ni wasureru mai.
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I will not repeat that mistake again.
Watashi wa nidoto sono shippai o kurikaesu mai.
Inference (It Seems / Probably)
- ~だろう〜darouN4Express probability, likelihood or certainty; 'probably'…
- ~ようだ〜you daN4Expresses appearance, similarity or inference; 'it seems'…
- ~らしい〜rashiiN3Expresses hearsay; 'I heard', 'it seems', 'apparently'.
- ~ということだ〜to iu koto daN3Express a conclusion or hearsay; 'I heard', 'it means'…
- ~んだって〜n datteN3Conveys information heard from someone else; 'I heard'…
- ~かもしれない〜kamoshirenaiN4Express uncertainty; 'maybe', 'might', 'possibly'.
- もしかすると〜かもしれないmoshikasuru to 〜kamoshirenaiN3Express the possibility of something; 'maybe', 'perhaps'…
- ~とのことだ〜to no koto daN1Expresses something that the speaker heard; 'I've heard…
- ~とみえて〜to mieteN1It seems that; apparently
- ~そうだ〜sou daN4Express the appearance, seeming, or feeling of something…
- ~に決まっている〜ni kimatte iruN2Express certainty; 'it is obvious', 'it must be', 'no…
Corpus examples (60)
あの人によって、大統領が戯画化され、政権の権威と綱紀が乱されてはなるまい。
According to him, the president must not be turned into a caricature, the loss of authority and public order cannot be borne.
彼が私の意見に同意しようとしまいと私はその仕事をするつもりだ。
Whether he agrees to my opinion or not, I will do the work.
意識していようがいまいが、私たちが読書のたびに行うことが一つある、それは私たちがその作者の個性に接触することである。
There is one thing which we do every time we read, whether we are aware of it or not; we come in contact with the personality of the writer.
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It makes little difference to me whether you believe it or not.
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Sleep is more pleasant than death. At least, there's not much difference.
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They listened attentively so as not to miss a single word.
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He is studying hard in order not to disappoint his parents.
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It'll do no harm to drink a little whisky.
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Whether it rains or not, I won't change my plan.
雨が降ろうが降るまいが、藤田はピクニックをしようと計画している。
Whether it rains or not, Fujita is planning to have a picnic.
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It will not be long before one out of five people owns a car.
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Something must be done about it in no time.
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You will gain nothing from doing that.
何もおかまい出来ませんが今晩は私の家で休んでいってください。
There won't be nothing much, but please come by my house this evening.
彼が役に立つ情報を提供してくれようとくれまいと、私は彼に会って見たい。
I want to meet him to see whether or not he gives me useful information.
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Nobody will regard us as office workers.
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The small country is making great efforts to keep up with other developing countries.
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He pays no attention to others' feelings.
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She turned her head away lest he see her tears.
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She steeled herself not to cry.
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Whether you like it or not, you have to go.
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John tried not to wake the sleeping baby.
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I don't care whether Tom stays or not.
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Don't worry. It's not the end of the world.
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She pressed her lips together and willed herself not to cry.