🇯🇵 Japanese
日本語 • Kana + Kanji
Negation: saying ‘not’ the natural way
Learn the main negative pattern and two phrases you’ll use constantly.
How negation works
Start with one common negative sentence and reuse it.
- Polite negative often ends in ません: わかりません.
- Casual negative often ends in ない.
わかりません。
Wakarimasen
I don't understand.
行きません。
Ikimasen
I won't go.
Practice tip
Say positive and negative back‑to‑back to train your ear.
- I understand → I don’t understand
- I know → I don’t know
Mini‑quiz
Mini-quiz
1/4 • Score: 0
Which sentence matches “I don't understand.”?