ぬ
🃏 Flashcard
ぬ
nu
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negative verb conjugation (traditional)
N2
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
nu
Post ID
51113
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
negative verb conjugation (traditional)
📖 How to use it
The classical Japanese negative verb ending, equivalent to modern ない, used in formal or literary contexts.
Attaches to
Attaches to the 未然形 (imperfective form) of verbs: for godan verbs, the stem with the final -u changed to -a (e.g., 書く→書か); for ichidan verbs, the stem (e.g., 食べる→食べ); for irregular verbs, する→せ, くる→こ. Then add ぬ/ん.
This ending is the traditional negative form, seen in classical literature and still used in set expressions, slogans, and formal writing. In modern speech it sounds archaic or stiff, but you will encounter it in phrases like 絶えぬ (never-ending) or 忘れぬ (not forgetting). It behaves like an adjective in some ways but conjugates differently when used in compound forms.
彼は何も言わぬまま去った。
Kare wa nani mo iwanu mama satta.
He left without saying anything.
この道は険しきも、歩みを止めぬ。
Kono michi wa kewashiki mo, ayumi o tomenu.
This path is steep, but I will not stop walking.
知らぬが仏という言葉がある。
Shiranu ga hotoke to iu kotoba ga aru.
There is a saying that 'not knowing is Buddha' (ignorance is bliss).
Not ぬ as in ぬく (to remove) or ぬ as in ぬる (to become lukewarm).
The negative ぬ attaches to the imperfective stem and means 'not'. The other ぬ are separate verbs with their own meanings. Context and the verb stem will clarify.
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This form is literary and formal; it is rarely used in everyday conversation, except in fixed expressions or for rhetorical effect.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ぬ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ぬ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ぬ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ぬ mean?
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Negative verb conjugation (traditional)
What JLPT level is ぬ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ぬ in a sentence?
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Attach ぬ (nu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ぬ formal or casual Japanese?
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ぬ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember ぬ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.