JLPT N2 Grammar – The 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. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment

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

A: “〜まい” and “〜ものか” are both expressions that convey a negative feeling. However, their meanings and usage are slightly different.
“〜まい” is a somewhat formal expression that is used to express, in a calm way, either negation of intention or negation of conjecture. In contrast, “〜ものか” is often used in spoken language and is used when strongly denying something with emotions such as anger or defiance.
In other words, the key to telling them apart is the strength of the speaker’s feelings and the level of formality of the expression.

〜まい① Negation of intention (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Shows the speaker’s intention not 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”

[Key Points]
・It expresses only the speaker’s own intention
・It is a somewhat formal expression, as if the speaker is telling themselves something

[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.

この間あいだは帰かえるのが遅おそくなって、両親りょうしんに心配しんぱいをかけてしまった。もう二に度どと同おなじことをするまい。
The other day, I came home late and made my parents worry. I will never do the same thing again.


[Note]
You cannot use “〜まい” to directly express another person’s intention.

× 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。
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 Negation of conjecture (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Probably not ~
Probably will not ~

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + まい
[A] い adjective -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”.

[Key Points]
・It expresses conjecture, not intention
・It means something like “probably not ~” and has a somewhat formal tone
・It is seen more often in formal speech or written language than in casual conversation

[Examples]　
夫おっとは飲のみすぎて気分きぶんが悪わるそうだ。しばらくは飲のむまい。
My husband looks sick from drinking too much. He probably won’t drink for a while.

駅えきまではそう遠とおくあるまいし、歩あゆみいていけるだろう。

The station probably isn’t that far, so we can walk there.

この仕事しごとはそれほど大変たいへんではあるまい。きっと早はやく終おわるだろう。
This job probably isn’t that difficult. I think it will finish quickly.

雨あめは降ふるまいと思おもっていたのに、急きゅうに降ふり出だした。
I didn’t think it would rain, but it suddenly started raining.

〜ものか (JLPT N2)　

[Meaning]
Definitely will not ~
There is no way that ~
Not ~ at all

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

[Key Points]
・An expression often used in spoken language
・Used when strongly denying something with emotions such as anger, defiance, frustration, or surprise

[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.

Let’s Compare

① In the case of negation of intention

The following two sentences both mean “I will not come again,” but the nuance is different.

[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 ”〜まい” is used, it gives the impression that the speaker is calmly telling themselves something. It conveys a quiet, settled determination, like saying, “I will make sure not to come again.”

On the other hand, when ”〜ものか” is used, anger or dissatisfaction is expressed more strongly. It conveys an emotional and emphatic negation, like saying, “I will absolutely never come again.”

② Difference depending on the situation

”〜まい” is used when expressing a promise or determination to oneself in a relatively calm way.

[Examples]　
(After making his parents worry)
この間あいだは遅おそく帰かえってお父とうさんとお母ははさんを心配しんぱいさせてしまった。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.

(An older brother and younger brother are having a fight)
兄あに：お前まえなんか、もう知しらない！

弟おとうと：二に度どと話はなすものか！
Older brother: I’m done with you!

Younger brother: I’ll never talk to you again!

③ ”〜まい” can also express conjecture

”〜ものか” is used for negation with strong emotion, but it cannot be used for negation of conjecture.
For that reason, when you want to express the meaning “probably not ~,” you use ”〜まい”.

[Examples]
(Looking at a 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 probably isn’t that far, so we can walk there.
⇒ The speaker is guessing, based on the map, that the station is probably not very far away.

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.
⇒ This shows that the speaker had thought it probably would not rain.

Summary

[〜まい]

• Expresses negation of intention and negation of conjecture.
• It has a somewhat formal and calm impression.
• It is used for one’s own determination or for calm judgment.

[〜ものか]

• Expresses strong negation.
• It is often used in spoken language.
• It is used with emotions such as anger, defiance, and frustration.

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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