JLPT N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜まい” and “〜ものか”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜まい” and “〜ものか”
2. 〜まい ①
3. 〜まい ②
4. 〜ものか
5. 「〜まい」VS 「〜ものか」
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “〜まい” and “〜ものか”?

A: Both “〜まい” and “〜ものか” are used at the end of sentences to indicate negation. You might wonder which one to use, but it depends on the speaker’s intention.

〜まい① (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To not intend to do something

[Rule]
[V] Verb Dictionary form＋まい

*For group 2 & 3 verbs, using the negative form＋まい is also acceptable
*”する” can be “するまい” or “すまい”

[Point]
It only expresses the intention of the first person.

[Examples]
昨日きのうはお酒さけを飲のみすぎて、今日きょうは気分きぶんが悪わるい。二に度どとあんなに飲のむまい。
I drank too much alcohol yesterday, and I feel sick today. I will never drink that much again.

ここにはもう来こまいと思おもっていたのに、また来きてしまいました。
I thought I would never come here again, but I ended up coming back.

When referring to someone else’s intention, the sentence does not end with “～まい”.

× きのう夫おっとはお酒さけを飲のみすぎて、二に度どと酒さけを飲のむまい。
　My husband drank too much alcohol yesterday, and he will never drink again.

〇 きのう夫おっとはお酒さけを飲のみすぎて、二に度どと酒さけを飲のむまいと決きめたそうです。
　 My husband drank too much alcohol yesterday, and he has decided never to drink again.

〜まい② (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
It probably isn’t ～

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form＋まい
[A] い adjectiveーい＋く＋あるまい
[Na] な adjective＋では＋あるまい
[N] Noun＋では＋あるまい

*For group 2 & 3 verbs, using the negative form＋まい is also acceptable.
*”する” can be “するまい” or “すまい”.

[Point]
It can express the speaker’s conjecture, so it can also be used for objective matters.

[Examples]
夫おっとは飲のみすぎて気分きぶんが悪わるいようだ。きっとしばらく飲のむまい。
My husband seems to feel sick from drinking too much. He probably won’t drink for a while.

そう遠とおくあるまいし、歩あるいていけるだろう。
It’s not that far, so we can probably walk there.

この仕事しごとはあまり大変たいへんではあるまい。きっと早はやくできると思おもう。
This job probably isn’t that difficult. I think I can finish it quickly.

A：雨あめが降ふっているから駅えきまで送おくろうか。
B：いや、大雨おおあめではあるまいし大丈夫だいじょうぶだよ。
A: It’s raining, so shall I give you a ride to the station?
B: No, it’s not a heavy rain, so I’ll be fine.

〜ものか (JLPT N2)　

[Meaning]
To definitely not do something

[Rule]
[V] Verb Dictionary form＋ものか
[A] い adjective＋ものか
[Na] な adjective ＋ものか

[Examples]　
あの人ひとと二に度どと話はなすものか。
I will never talk to that person again.

A：そのカメラ、安やすかった？
B：安やすいものか。10万まん円えんもしたよ。
A: Was that camera cheap?
B: Cheap? Not at all. It was 100,000 yen.

A：この仕事しごと、本当ほんとうに大変たいへんですね。
B：大変たいへんなものか。慣なれればとても楽らくだよ。
A: This job is really tough, isn’t it?
B: Tough? Not at all. Once you get used to it, it’s very easy.

“〜まい” VS “〜ものか” (Denial of Intent)

In the following cases, either can be used, but the key point lies in the speaker’s feelings.

[Examples]
なんてまずいレストランなんだ。二に度どと来くるまい。
なんてまずいレストランなんだ。二に度どと来くるものか。　
What a terrible restaurant. I will never come again.

When using “〜まい,” the speaker’s resolve feels somewhat weaker than when using “〜ものか.”
This is because “〜まい” implies an effort not to do something.

In contrast, “〜ものか” conveys a stronger sense of “never” or “absolutely not,” indicating a firm determination.

Additionally, “〜まい” often expresses strong personal resolve or promises calmly and is frequently used in formal contexts. On the other hand, “〜ものか” is used in spoken language to express emotional feelings. It is more natural to use “〜ものか” when emotions are strongly expressed, such as in anger during a quarrel.

[Examples]　
(Causing worry to my parents)
この間あいだは遅おそく帰かえってお父ちちさんとお母ははさんを心配しんぱいさせちゃったな。二に度どと心配しんぱいをかけまい。
I came home late the other day and made my parents worry. I will never make them worry again.

(Daughter and father having a quarrel)
娘むすめ：お父ちちさんはいつもわたしの話はなしを聞きいてくれないし、もう話はなさないから！
父ちち：二に度どと話はなすものか！
Daughter: Dad never listens to me, so I’m not going to talk to him anymore!!
Father: I will never talk to you again!!

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[〜まい (negative speculation)]

This can be paraphrased as “～ではないだろう“(It probably isn’t…) or “そうならないだろう” (It probably won’t be…).

[Examples] 　(While looking at the map)
駅えきまでそう遠とおくあるまいし、歩あるいていけるだろう。
The station isn’t that far, so we can probably walk there.
⇒ They are guessing that the station is not very far by looking at the map.

雨あめが降ふるまいと思おもっていたのに、大雨おおあめになってきた。
I didn’t think it would rain, but it has started pouring.
⇒ It shows that the speaker thought it wouldn’t rain.

Summary

〜まい

• Expresses denial of intention and conjecture.
• Calmly expresses strong intention or promise to oneself.

〜ものか

• “ものか” expresses a stronger denial of intention than “まい.”
• Used in spoken language to convey the speaker’s emotional feelings.
• Used when emotions, such as anger, are strongly expressed, such as during arguments.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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