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まい／まいか

 
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
 
7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.
 
-3点
「まだ九月だもの。急に寒くなるなまい。」
It's still September. so there's no way it's going to suddenly become cold.
 
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.
 
1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.
 
3点
「それは君の役には立つまい。」
That won't help you.
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Construction
AVerb: Stem
AVerb: Dictionary Form
+まい
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.


Usages notes (by users)
 
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.
8 months ago
avatar 鷦鷯 - 18334 元気, 26 好き
 
0点

来るまい or 来まい (こまい）
9 months ago
avatar 鷦鷯 - 18334 元気, 26 好き
 
8点
This is an old, formal expression generally used in writing.
6+ years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - 24695 元気, 379 好き
 
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
 
8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.
 
8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!
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Loading user sentences...


Construction
AVerb: Stem
AVerb: Dictionary Form
+まい
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.


Usages notes (by users)
 
2点
If used in the third person, the sentence can't end with まい.
6+ years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - 24695 元気, 379 好き
 
1点

This is an old, formal expression generally used in writing to show a strong opposition to doing an action.
6+ years ago
avatar fareastfurfaro (Grammar mod.) - 24695 元気, 379 好き
 
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
There are no approved example sentences.
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Loading user sentences...


Construction
AVerb: Volitional + か + BVerb: Dictionary Form
AVerb: Volitional + か + BVerb: Stem
AVerb: Volitional + か/と + BVerb: Dictionary Form
+まい+か
Examples:
生きようか生きるまいか (to be or not to be)



Usages notes (by users)
No usage notes have been added. Logged-in users can add usage notes.

Discussion about this grammar
aileen
Studying : JLPT 2級
元気 : 1,910, 好 : 47
ポスト : 94, はんこ : 16
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.
Quote
 
0点
7+ years ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38
Yea, I did a bit of looking up, and that seems to be a tad inaccurate. Fixing it now.
Quote
 
0点
7+ years ago.

aileen
Studying : JLPT 2級
元気 : 1,910, 好 : 47
ポスト : 94, はんこ : 16
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.
Quote
 
0点
7+ years ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38
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.
Quote
 
0点
7+ years ago.

avatar
fareastfurfaro
Years studied : 4
Studying : JLPT N1
Grammar mod. 元気 : 24,695, 好 : 379
ポスト : 556, はんこ : 35
I don't think しまい can be used. According to my books it's actually すまい.
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38
Yea, I agree with that, thanks!
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago.

avatar
mireille
Years studied : 3
Studying : JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
元気 : 1,013, 好 : 55
ポスト : 146, はんこ : 21
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
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago. Edited 6+ years ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38
With the second edit, do you agree that it should be shuffled off into a third meaning: 'whether or not to do [A]' ?
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago.

avatar
mireille
Years studied : 3
Studying : JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
元気 : 1,013, 好 : 55
ポスト : 146, はんこ : 21
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) ^^
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago. Edited 6+ years ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38
Added!
Quote
 
0点
6+ years ago.

Lang_learner
Years studied : 2 years
Studying : Grammar and vocabulary
元気 : 588, 好 : 32
ポスト : 59, はんこ : 20
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!
Quote
 
0点
1 year ago.

Chancerror
元気 : 2, 好 : 0
ポスト : 1, はんこ : 2
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! :)
Quote
 
0点
1 year ago.

avatar
mysticfive
Years studied : 15
Studying : 自分のため、日本語教師だから
元気 : 77,998, 好 : 3,682
ポスト : 2,224, はんこ : 39

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

Quote
 
0点
1 year ago.

avatar
鷦鷯
元気 : 18,334, 好 : 26
ポスト : 26, はんこ : 29

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

Quote
 
1点
9 months ago. Edited 9 months ago.

avatar
マイコー
Years studied : Too many (not enough!)
Studying : 適当に
Site admin 元気 : 35,220, 好 : 2,241
ポスト : 7,131, はんこ : 38

Agreed - I went ahead and blended the two together!

Quote
 
0点
9 months ago.