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Not A; Probably not A

  1. Not A; Probably not A
  2. I will definitely not A
    This is only used when the subject is 'I' (first person)
  3. Whether or not to A
    Both A and B are the same verbs
好
10点
彼 は まだ 子 供 だから 大人 の 気 持 ち など 分 か る まい 。 
Because he's still a child, he probably won't understand things like adult feelings.
好
1点
まだ 九 月 だもの 。 急 に 寒 く なる まい 。 
It's still September. so there's no way it's going to suddenly become cold.
好
4点
洗 濯 し よ う か し まい か は 、 あなた の 自 由 。 明日 着 て 行 く 服 が 無 く な る だけ だ よ 。 
You probably won't do the laundry, and that's your choice. Tomorrow you just won't have anything to wear.
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5点
５ 人 に 一 人 が 車 を 持 つ よう な 日 も 遠 く ある まい 。 
It will not be long before one out of five persons comes to come have a car.
好
4点
それ は 君 の 役 には 立 つ まい 。 
That won't help you.

Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
AVerb: Stem
まい
AVerb: Dictionary Form
 
ANoun で は ある
 
Aな-adjective で は ある
 
Aい-adjective -い く は ある
 
 
まい
Basic Examples:
登るまい (probably won't climb)

子供ではあるまい (not a child)

危険ではあるまい (probably not dangerous)

怖くはあるまい (not scared)

Notes
する can be used as するまい or すまい.
Where this grammar is found
Nihongo So-Matome N2 (日本語総まとめ）: 第６週　４日目
JLPT N2 / Advanced: Sentence Endings ③


User notes
好
0点

Used for expressing conjecture, like ～ないだろう

Though it's not shown in the construction diagram, you can see from the examples set out beneath it that:-
ーafter い adjectives、 （く）あるはまい　(高くはあるまい）probably not expensive
ーafter N・な adj stem、ではあるまい　(生徒ではあるまい、便利ではあるまい）probably not a student, probably not convenient.
6 years ago
avatar 火曜 - Level 17
好
0点

来るまい or 来まい (こまい）
6 years ago
avatar 火曜 - Level 17
好
9点
This is an old, formal expression generally used in writing.
12 years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - Level 1
 
I will definitely not A
This is only used when the subject is 'I' (first person)

  1. Not A; Probably not A
  2. I will definitely not A
    This is only used when the subject is 'I' (first person)
  3. Whether or not to A
    Both A and B are the same verbs
好
9点
お 父 さ ん に 彼 の 事 を 話 し た ら 、 怒 ら れ て し ま っ た ！ 二 度 と 話 す まい ！ 
When I talked to my father about himself, he got mad! I won't make that mistake again.
好
9点
あいつ に 本 を 貸 し た ら ボロボロ に なって 返 っ て 来 た 。 二 度 と 貸 す まい ！ 
I lent a book to that guy, and he returned it in tatters. I definitely won't lend anything to him again!

Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
AVerb: Stem
まい
AVerb: Dictionary Form
まい
Basic Examples:
会うまい ((I) definitely won't meet)

Notes
する can be used as するまい or すまい.
Where this grammar is found
Nihongo So-Matome N2 (日本語総まとめ）: 第６週　４日目
JLPT N2 / Advanced: Sentence Endings ②


User notes
好
0点

五段 verbs cant use stem form based on my conjugation android app
1 year ago
まさむね123 - Level 1
好
2点
If used in the third person, the sentence can't end with まい.
12 years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - Level 1
好
1点

This is an old, formal expression generally used in writing to show a strong opposition to doing an action.
12 years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - Level 1
 
Whether or not to A
Both A and B are the same verbs

  1. Not A; Probably not A
  2. I will definitely not A
    This is only used when the subject is 'I' (first person)
  3. Whether or not to A
    Both A and B are the same verbs
好
1点
夏 は 旅 行 に 行 こ う か 行 く まい か 考 え て い る 。 
I'm thinking about whether or not to go on a trip in the summer.
好
1点
仕 事 で 新 し い 企 画 を やろう か やる まい か 悩 ん で い る 。 
I'm worrying over whether or not to do a new project at work.

Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
AVerb: Volitional か BVerb: Dictionary Form
 
AVerb: Volitional か BVerb: Stem
 
AVerb: Volitional か/と BVerb: Dictionary Form
 
 
まいか
Basic Examples:
生きようか生きるまいか (to be or not to be)

Where this grammar is found
Nihongo So-Matome N2 (日本語総まとめ）: 第６週　４日目
Nihongo So-Matome N1 (日本語総まとめ): 第２週　３日目
JLPT N2 / Advanced: Mixed Expressions


User notes
No user notes have been added. Logged-in users can add user notes.

Discussion about this grammar
aileen
Studying: JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 66
Most of the examples in my Wordtank are a lot less strong than I expected:
内部の者の犯行ではあるまい。The crime's probably not an insider job.
この分なら今日は降るまい。If this keeps up, it probably won't rain today.
好
0点
12 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642
Yea, I did a bit of looking up, and that seems to be a tad inaccurate. Fixing it now.
好
0点
12 years ago
aileen
Studying: JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 66
I found a few more examples in the Wordtank, if it helps:
彼はなかなうんと言うまい。I don't think he'll agree readily.
あんな人はなかなかあるまい。People like her don't come along every day.

I see you fixed the model sentences. While doing so an extraneous period seems to have wandered into the second one.
好
1点
12 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642
Actually, that period does go in there.

As for the examples, I can't add examples that have been taken from other sources, but I can use them to help expand the definitions/usages.
好
0点
12 years ago
avatar
fareastfurfaro
Grammar mod. Level: 1, 好 : 483
I don't think しまい can be used. According to my books it's actually すまい.
好
0点
12 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642
Yea, I agree with that, thanks!
好
0点
12 years ago
avatar
mireille
Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 94
Dictionary form verb + まい
ますstem form verb + まい

母に言うと心配するから、このことは母に言うまい。
1日で10万円も負けた。競馬は二度とするまいと決心した。

Edit: According to Jgram these two constructions are also possible.
I-adjective stem (-い) +くはあるまい
Noun / Na-adjective +ではあるまい

Edit 2:
Volitional form verb + か + dictionary form verb + まいか
Volitional form verb + か + ますstem form verb + まいか
好
0点
12 years ago (Edited 12 years ago.)
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642
With the second edit, do you agree that it should be shuffled off into a third meaning: 'whether or not to do [A]' ?
好
0点
12 years ago
avatar
mireille
Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 94
Yeah.

(1) 猫が死んだことを子供に言おうか言うまいか迷った。
(2) 二人の喧嘩を止めようか止めるまいか。
(3) 私は今ダイエット中です。お土産にもらったチョコレートを食べようか食べまいか、考え中です。でも、おいしそう…。

Also, it's Noun / Na-adjective +ではあるまい (with the particle は) ^^
好
0点
12 years ago (Edited 12 years ago.)
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642
Added!
好
0点
12 years ago
Lang_learner
Years Studied: 2 years
Studying: Grammar and vocabulary
Level: 1, 好 : 55
Hello everyone! I have never heard of this grammar before until now, and I was wondering if this grammar is used in everyday conversation. If not, is it still handy to know in formal settings? Thanks in advance!
好
0点
7 years ago
Chancerror
Level: 1, 好 : 0
I'm not sure whether or not this thread is dead, but I want to draw some attention to ～まい／～まいか. In the explanation, it is stated that "This is only used when the subject is I (first person)." Then I stumbled across this 「子供を育てる環境を整えないと、少子化問題は解決するまい。」underneath the heading of 「まい」を使った表現 in a book that I am using to study for the JLPT N2. After talking with the 国語 teacher at my school, he told me that this expression, though not used as often, if at all, is a sort of negation to the volitional しよう. However, that sort of explanation doesn't entirely match what is written here. I also looked at JGram and Tae Kim's guide for assistance, and Tae Kim seemed to give the same volitional explanation. So, basically, I have no idea how, using the explanation provided gets me from the Japanese sentence written above, to its translation, "The low birthrate problem will never be solved without improving the environment to raise children." Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)
好
0点
7 years ago
avatar
mysticfive
Years Studied: since 2000
Studying: 自分のため、日本語教師だから
Level: 678, 好 : 4,786

I think what you're actually looking for is this grammar pattern: https://www.renshuu.org/grammar/634/うか～まいか smile.gif

好
0点
7 years ago
avatar
火曜
Level: 17, 好 : 31

Can うか～まいか and (3) on this page be linked or put together?


The うか～まいか page also still shows that するまい can be written as しまい

好
1点
6 years ago (Edited 6 years ago.)
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 62, 好 : 5,642

Agreed - I went ahead and blended the two together!

好
0点
6 years ago



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