まさか
🃏 Flashcard
まさか
masaka
Tap to reveal usage
there's no way; that's impossible
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
masaka
Post ID
50868
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
there's no way; that's impossible
📖 How to use it
Expresses strong disbelief or impossibility about a situation, often translated as 'there's no way' or 'that can't be true.'
Attaches to
This is an interjection/adverb that stands alone or precedes a statement. It does not conjugate and can be used by itself, or before a phrase like まさかそんなことはない (masaka sonna koto wa nai).
まさか (masaka) is used when you are astonished and cannot believe something. It can be a standalone exclamation, like when you hear shocking news, or it can introduce a clause that states the impossible thing. For example, if a friend says they failed the exam, you might say まさか！ to mean 'No way!' It is often followed by negative expressions like ない or はずがない to emphasize impossibility, as in まさか、彼がそんなことをするはずがない (masaka, kare ga sonna koto o suru hazu ga nai) meaning 'There's no way he would do such a thing.'
まさか！彼がそんなことを言うなんて。
Masaka! Kare ga sonna koto o iu nante.
No way! I can't believe he said that.
まさか、明日テストがあるなんて忘れてた。
Masaka, ashita tesuto ga aru nante wasureteta.
There's no way I forgot we have a test tomorrow.
まさか彼女が来ないなんて、信じられない。
Masaka kanojo ga konai nante, shinjirarenai.
I can't believe she's not coming; that's impossible.
Not まさに (masani)
まさか means 'no way' (disbelief), while まさに means 'exactly' or 'indeed.' They look similar but are opposite in meaning.
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Used in both casual and formal speech, but in very formal writing it may be replaced by more explicit expressions like そんなはずはない.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
まさか
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat まさか 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 まさか. 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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern まさか mean?
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There's no way; that's impossible
What JLPT level is まさか?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use まさか in a sentence?
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Attach まさか (masaka) 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 まさか formal or casual Japanese?
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まさか is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember まさか 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.