まい (mai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Never Again
Anna Baffa Volpe
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Anna Baffa Volpe
4 min reading time
The term まい (mai) can be translated in various ways: probably isn't, probably doesn't, won't, must not or don't intend to.
The structure with まい is used in sentences with negative meaning.
There are two main uses for it: assumptions about facts and people and a strong willingness not to do something.
How まい is formed
We use まい with verbs Ichidan and Godan as follows:
Won't eat
It is also commonly used the dictionary form, so we can find the form: 食べるまい
Won't go
The irregular verbs:
- する can be used with まい and has also the forms しまい and すまい
- 来る becomes 来まい
How and when まい is used
まい is considered an auxiliary verb and it is used in negative contexts.
The sentence containing まい has a negative meaning. It is the opposite of Volitional Form. まい expresses the willingness to deny, 否定の意志
もう二度とタバコを吸うまいと誓った。
I vowed never to smoke again.
In this case the expression can be replaced by しないつもりだ I'm not going to do it, I will never do
決して怠け者にはなるまい。
Never be a slothful person.
「なるまい」means 「そうならないようにするつもりだ」: we intend to make sure that does not happen.
今回はあれを繰り返すまい。
This time we won't repeat that.
二度と + Negative Verb form means I won't ... again, never again
二度と行くまい。
I won't never go there again.
もうこの坂を登り降りすることは二度とあるまい。
I will never climb up and down this hill again.
料金は高いし、サービスは最悪だし、もう二度とあんな店に行くまい。
The prices are too high and the service is terrible, I'll never go back to that restaurant again.
大事な試験の前だから遊びに行くまい。
It's before an important exam, so I won't go out.
Assumptions
We use まい when from the observation of facts and our perceptions, we assume that a fact does not occur. 否定の推量 negative supposition
彼の言うことなんて、誰も信じまい。
No one believes what he says.
Everyone knows that he usually lies.
この時間だと、さすがに終電には間に合うまい。
At this time, I won't be in time for the last train.
ないだろう can be used in the case of negative inference
彼はもう来まい。
He won't come back again.
Or we can say:
彼はもう来ないだろう。
He won't come back again.
決してこれより悪くなるまい。
It can never get worse than this.
子供はこんな辛いものは食べまい。
Children won't eat such spicy food.
～ようか／うか and ～まいか: I'm not sure whether ... or not
This structure is used when we have doubts, we are not sure about the decision to make and we have to consider the various options. We have a double structure and find:
- in the first part the verb in the Volitional form ending in う or よう + interrogative particle か and
- in the second part the verb with まい + か, so consider the different forms according to Ichidan or Godan Verbs rules
電車で行こうか、行くまいか悩んでいる。
I am wondering whether to go by train or not.
Using a Ichidan Verb:
- 「出ようか出まいか」: whether to go out or not With a Godan Verb:
- 「帰ろうか帰るまいか」: whether to go home or not This structure is often used in combination with the verbs
- 悩んでいる from 悩む in the ている form: I'm wondering if I should or not and
- 迷う be of two minds over, be perplexed
夏休みに留学へ行こうか行くまいか迷っている。
I am not sure whether or not I should go to study abroad during the summer holidays.
彼に相談しようかしまいか考えている。
I am considering whether to ask his advice or not.
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