決して~ない
kesshite ~ nai
JLPT N3 Formal
Formation
決して + Verb (negative form)
Express 'never', 'by no means', or 'not at all' when negating a statement.
When to use
Emphatic "never/by no means" - stronger and more deliberate than ぜんぜん; common in writing and serious statements.
Explanation
The 決して~ない grammar point is used to emphasize a negative statement or action. It can be translated as 'never', 'by no means', or 'not at all'. This grammar point must be paired with a negative verb form to maintain its negative meaning.
Example sentences
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He never arrives late.
Kare wa kesshite chikoku shinai.
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Please never tell this secret to anyone.
Kono himitsu o kesshite darenimo iwanai de kudasai.
-
Never give up and keep trying until the end.
Kesshite akiramenai de, saigo made ganbarimashou.
-
She is a person who never lies.
Kanojo wa kesshite uso o tsukanai hito desu.
Negation Intensity (Not Very / Not At All)
- ぜんぜん~zenzen~N5Used to express 'not at all' or 'completely' in negative…
- すこしも〜ないsukoshimo~naiN3Express a negative state or action; 'not at all', 'none…
- あまり~ありませんamari ~ arimasenN5Express 'not very', 'not much', or 'not really' when…
- そんなに~sonna ni〜N4Expresses 'not so much', 'not that', or 'not so ~'.
- まったく~ないmattaku ~naiN3Completely not; not at all.
Corpus examples (60)
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Never did I say bad things about you.
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You never see a fault in anybody.
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She was by no means happy.
その電車は不便だし快適でもない。その上、時間どおりに走ることが決してない。
The trains are inconvenient and uncomfortable; in addition, they never run on time.
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Mr. Jackson never loses his temper with his students.
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My faith in this country was never shaken.
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I'll never forget taking the exam.
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A misfortune never comes alone.
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The problem is far from easy.
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Politicians never tell us their inner thoughts.
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On no account should you reveal the secret.
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He never tells a lie.
私は決して船酔いしません。なぜなら船の旅になれているからです。
I never get seasick because I am used to traveling by boat.
-
Never confuse pity with love.
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Her explanation is by no means satisfactory.
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He'll never admit to being in the wrong.
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Bill never argues with other people.
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He is the last man to break his promise.
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He never speaks unless spoken to.
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He will never yield to the pressure of a politician.
その首相は隣国の圧力に決して屈しなかったので一層人気を増した。
The Prime Minister became all the more popular because he never gave way to pressure from the neighboring country.
-
A man of common sense would never do such a thing.
彼がピアノを演奏しているのを聞けば、あなたは彼が8歳の少年だとは決して思わないでしょう。
If you heard him playing the piano, you would never think he is an eight-year-old boy.
トムはメアリーに決してそんなことはしない。
Tom would never do that to Mary.
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He is anything but a good student.