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Will not; probably not
Definition
The grammar pattern "V-plain + まい / V-masu (Group 2/3) + まい" is used to express negative intention (1st person) or negative conjecture (3rd person). It is often translated to "will not" or "probably not". This pattern is commonly used in situations where the speaker is hesitant or uncertain about taking a certain action or believes that something is unlikely to happen. For example, "食べるまい" can be translated to "I will not eat" or "I probably won't eat". The pattern is often used in polite or formal situations to convey a sense of hesitation or uncertainty.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Group 2 Verb (Plain Form) | [Verb] + まい | 食べるまい |
| Group 2 Verb (Masu Stem) | [Masu Stem] + まい | 食べまい |
| Group 3 Verb (Plain Form) | [Verb] + まい | するまい |
| Group 3 Verb (Masu Stem) | [Masu Stem] + まい | すまい |
Examples
あんな失礼な態度の店には、二度と行くまい。
Anna shitsurei na teido no mise ni, nidou to iku mai.
I will not go to that store with such rude behavior again.
あんな失礼な態度の店には、二度と行くまい。 (I will not go to that store with such rude behavior again.)
この難しい問題は、彼にも解けまい。
Kono muzukashii mondai wa, kare ni mo toku mai.
He may not be able to solve this difficult problem.
この難しい問題は、彼にも解けまい。 (He may not be able to solve this difficult problem.)
嘘をついても、すぐにバレてしまうのではあるまい。
Uso o tsukite mo, sugu ni barete shimau no de wa aru mai.
It's probably not that he will find out right away even if he lies.
嘘をついても、すぐにバレてしまうのではあるまい。 (It's probably not that he will find out right away even if he lies.)
Context
This pattern is used to express negative intention or negative conjecture. It is often used in polite or formal situations to convey a sense of hesitation or uncertainty. It can be used with Group 2 and Group 3 verbs. It is often confused with the pattern "～ましょう" which is used to express a positive volitional.
Watch out
～ましょう is used to express a positive volitional, whereas ～まい is used to express negative intention or negative conjecture.
Group 2 verbs require the masu stem + まい, while Group 3 verbs require the plain form + まい.
～まいか is used to ask a question, whereas ～まい is used to express a negative intention or conjecture.
Strategy
Pay attention to the verb conjugation and the context in which the pattern is used. Make sure to distinguish between the pattern ～まい and the pattern ～ましょう.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N2 test-style questions. Each sentence shows V-plain + まい / V-masu (Group 2/3) + まい used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
あんな失礼な態度の店には、二度と行くまい。
Pattern used: まい
～まい expresses a strong negative intention (I will not).
この難しい問題は、彼にも解けまい。
Pattern used: まい
In this context, ～まい serves as a formal negative conjecture (probably cannot/will not).
嘘をついても、すぐにバレてしまうのではあるまいか。
Pattern used: まいか
～ではあるまいか is a formal way to say 'isn't it the case that...?' or 'I wonder if...'
Interactive
あんな失礼な態度の店には、二度と行く______。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.