決して～ない
🃏 Flashcard
決して～ない
kesshite~nai
Tap to reveal usage
never; by no means
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
kesshite~nai
Post ID
50853
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
never; by no means
📖 How to use it
Expresses a strong negative assertion, 'never' or 'by no means'.
Attaches to
決して is an adverb that precedes the negative predicate. The predicate is the plain negative form of a verb (ない-form), or the negative form of an adjective (～くない), or ではない for nouns/な-adjectives.
決して～ない is used to strongly deny something or to emphasize that something is absolutely not the case. It is often used in warnings, promises, or statements of strong conviction. The nuance is stronger than just saying ～ない, adding a sense of 'not at all' or 'under no circumstances'.
In conversation, this pattern is common in expressions like 決して忘れない (I will never forget) or 決して諦めない (I will never give up). It can also be used in formal contexts, but it is not overly stiff. Note that 決して must be paired with a negative ending; you cannot use it with a positive statement.
この秘密は決して誰にも言わない。
Kono himitsu wa kesshite dare ni mo iwanai.
I will never tell this secret to anyone.
彼の意見は決して間違っていないと思う。
Kare no iken wa kesshite machigatte inai to omou.
I think his opinion is by no means wrong.
決して諦めないでください。
Kesshite akiramenaide kudasai.
Please never give up.
Not ぜひ～たい
決して is always used with a negative, while ぜひ (which sounds similar) is used with positive requests or desires, meaning 'by all means' or 'definitely'.
Register
Standard and neutral; used in both speech and writing, though in casual speech it may be replaced by 絶対に～ない for a more colloquial tone.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
決して～ない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 決して～ない 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 決して～ない. 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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 決して～ない mean?
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Never; by no means
What JLPT level is 決して～ない?
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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 決して～ない in a sentence?
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Attach 決して～ない (kesshite~nai) 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 決して～ない formal or casual Japanese?
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決して～ない is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember 決して～ない 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.