Grammar › N2 · 08 Inference and judgment

〜まい: probably not; will never

N2 · 08 Inference and judgment

Expresses a negative guess or a firm decision not to do something.

Verb dictionary form + まい (ru-verbs may use 〜まい after the stem; する: すまい/しまい). Formal and written. Two meanings: 'probably will not' (guess) and 'I will never' (will). Often seen as 〜ではあるまい.

Examples

あんな失敗しっぱいは二度にどとしまいと心こころに誓ちかった。

I swore to myself that I would never make a mistake like that again.

この雨あめでは、今日きょうの試合しあいは行おこなわれまい。

With this rain, the game probably will not be held today.

Study 〜まい in the course →