JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜まい”, “〜ず” and “〜ない”
Table of Contents
1. The difference between “〜まい”, “〜ず” and “〜ない“
2. 〜まい
3. 〜ず
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments
Q: Are “〜まい” and “〜ず” the same as “〜ない”?
A: They are all related to negation, but they differ in meaning and usage.
“〜ない” is the most basic negative form in modern Japanese.
“〜まい” expresses either negative supposition, meaning “probably won’t / probably isn’t,” or a strong intention, meaning “I have no intention of doing…” or “I’m determined not to…”.
“〜ず” has a meaning similar to “〜ないで” and is used to express doing one action without doing another action.
Let’s take a closer look at each expression.
〜まい (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
① probably won’t / probably isn’t
② intend not to / be determined not to
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + まい
[A] い adjective い + くあるまい
[Na] な adjective な + ではあるまい
[N] Noun + ではあるまい
*する → するまい・すまい
[Examples]
こんな古くて高い家、誰も買うまい。
No one will buy such an old and expensive house.
どんな仕事も楽で簡単ではあるまい。
No job is likely to be easy and simple.
もう彼も子供ではあるまいし、一人で行けるでしょう。
He’s probably not a child anymore, so he should be able to go on his own.
もう二度と同じ失敗はするまい。
I will never make the same mistake again.
“〜まい” has two main uses.
① Negative supposition
It means “〜ないだろう,” or “probably won’t / probably isn’t.”
[Examples]
こんな古くて高い家、誰も買うまい。
No one will buy such an old and expensive house.
⇒ The speaker thinks, “No one will probably buy a house like this.”
In everyday conversation, “〜ないだろう” is more commonly used than “〜まい” in this sense.
② Strong intention
It expresses the speaker’s strong determination, meaning “〜ないつもりだ” or “絶対に〜しない” — “I intend not to…” or “I’m determined not to…”.
[Examples]
前回はひどい負け方をしたから、今回は絶対に負けるまい。
Since I lost badly last time, I’m determined not to lose this time.
⇒ This expresses the speaker’s strong determination: “I absolutely will not lose.”
In this usage, “〜まい” is often used together with expressions such as “二度と” (never again), “絶対に” (absolutely), and “もう” (anymore / again).
“〜まい” is still used in modern Japanese, but compared with “〜ないだろう” and “〜ないつもりだ,” it sounds more formal and somewhat old-fashioned. It is more commonly found in writing and formal expressions than in everyday conversation.
〜ず (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
without doing / not doing
[Rule]
[V] Verb ない-form ない + ず
*する→せず 来る→来ず
[Examples]
この気持ちを忘れずにがんばってください。
Please keep this feeling in mind and do your best.
朝ごはんを食べずに学校へ来ました。
I came to school without eating breakfast.
財布を持たずにコンビニに来てしまいました。
I came to the convenience store without bringing my wallet.
“〜ず” has a meaning similar to “〜ないで.”
It is often used to express doing one action without doing another action.
[Example]
朝ごはんを食べずに来たから、おなかがすきました。
＝ 朝ごはんを食べないで来たから、おなかがすきました。
I came without eating breakfast, so I’m hungry.
Both sentences mean that the person came without eating breakfast.
However, “〜ず” sounds slightly more formal than “〜ないで” and is also commonly used in written Japanese.
[Examples]
無理なさらずに。
Please don’t push yourself too hard.
笑顔を忘れずに！
Don’t forget to smile!
感謝の気持ちを忘れずに。
Don’t forget to be grateful.
As in these examples, a sentence can also end with “〜ずに.”
In such cases, the rest of the sentence is omitted, as in:
無理なさらずに（お過ごしください）。
Please take care and don’t overdo it.
笑顔を忘れずに（がんばってください）。
Don’t forget to smile (and keep doing your best).
Let’s Compare
① 行かない
[Example]
明日は学校へ行かない。
I’m not going to school tomorrow.
⇒ This is a basic negative form. It simply negates the verb “行く” (to go).
② 行くまい
[Example]
もうあの店には行くまい。
I’m determined never to go to that store again.
⇒ The speaker is expressing a strong determination not to go there again.
③ 行かず
[Example]
今日は学校へ行かず、家で勉強した。
I didn’t go to school today and studied at home instead.
⇒ It means “学校へ行かないで” (without going to school) and connects this negative action to the next action.
As you can see, even though all three forms negate the same verb, “行く,” they each have a different function.
Summary
[〜ない]
- The basic negative form in modern Japanese.
[〜まい]
- Expresses negative supposition, meaning “〜ないだろう” (“probably won’t / probably isn’t”).
- Expresses a strong intention, meaning “〜ないつもりだ” (“intend not to / be determined not to”).
- Sounds more formal and somewhat old-fashioned than “〜ない.”
- In everyday conversation, “〜ないだろう” is more commonly used.
[〜ず]
- Has a meaning similar to “〜ないで” (“without doing”).
- Is often used when doing one action without doing another action.
- Sounds slightly more formal than “〜ないで.”
- Expressions such as “無理せずに” (“don’t push yourself too hard”) and “忘れずに” (“don’t forget”) are still commonly used in modern Japanese.
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.
A. ない
今日、雨は降らないだろう。
It probably won’t rain today.
*Because “だろう” follows, the sentence takes the form “〜ないだろう.” Since “まい” itself can mean “〜ないだろう,” it is not used here.
A. ず
連絡もせず学校を休んだから、明日先生に怒られるだろう。
I skipped school without even contacting them, so the teacher will probably be angry tomorrow.
*The sentence means “I skipped school without contacting them,” so “〜ず,” which works similarly to “〜ないで,” is used. Also, “する” changes to “せず.”
A. まい
こんなまずい料理のレストラン、二度と来るまい。
I’ll never come to a restaurant with food this bad again.
* Because “二度と〜ない” expresses the speaker’s strong determination, “まい” is the correct answer.
A. まい
田中「体調が悪いんですか。」
山田「ええ、でも、少し元気がないだけで、病気であるまいし、大丈夫ですよ。」
Tanaka: “Are you feeling unwell?”
Yamada: “Yes, but I’m just feeling a little off. It’s not like I’m sick, so I’ll be fine.”
* Here, “病気であるまいし” does not simply express the supposition “病気ではないだろう.” Instead, it has the nuance of “it’s not as if I’m sick.” The form “〜まいし” is used to give a reason or basis for a judgment.
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