まい
🃏 Flashcard
まい
mai
Tap to reveal usage
will not; intend not to
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
mai
Post ID
51057
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
will not; intend not to
📖 How to use it
Expresses the speaker's firm intention not to do something or a prediction that something will not happen.
Attaches to
Attaches to the dictionary form of verbs (e.g., 行く → 行くまい). For する, both するまい and すまい are used; for 来る, 来るまい (くるまい) is standard.
This pattern is fairly formal and literary. In everyday conversation, you would usually say ないつもりだ or just use the negative form (e.g., 行かない). But まい appears in written Japanese, speeches, and set phrases. It has two main uses: expressing the speaker's strong intention not to do something, or expressing a negative conjecture about something (probably won't). For example, そんなことは言うまい means 'I will not say such a thing.' When used for conjecture, it often combines with だろう or に違いない: 彼は来るまい (He probably won't come). Note that まい does not change for politeness; it is always plain.
もう二度とあの店には行くまい。
Mou nidoto ano mise ni wa iku mai.
I will never go to that store again.
彼はそんな簡単な間違いをするまい。
Kare wa sonna kantan na machigai o suru mai.
He would not make such a simple mistake.
約束は守るまいと思ったが、やはり守るべきだ。
Yakusoku wa mamoru mai to omotta ga, yahari mamoru beki da.
I thought I would not keep the promise, but I should after all.
Not ないつもりだ / つもりはない
まい is formal and often suggests a strong internal resolve or a negative guess. つもりはない is more common in speech and clearly means 'have no intention of.' For conjecture, use まい only in writing; in speech use たぶん～ないだろう.
Register
Formal and literary; rarely used in casual conversation, where negative forms or つもりはない are preferred.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
まい
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat まい 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 まい. 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.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern まい mean?
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Will not; intend not to
What JLPT level is まい?
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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 まい in a sentence?
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Attach まい (mai) 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 まい formal or casual Japanese?
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まい 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 まい 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.