ません (Negative)
Negate verbs politely.
Polite Refusals
In Japanese, being polite is essential when you want to decline an offer or state that you do not perform a certain action. Whether you are at a restaurant declining a drink or telling a colleague that you do not watch television, you need a way to turn positive verbs into negative ones.
お酒を飲みますか？
Do you drink alcohol?
いいえ、飲みません。
No, I do not drink.
The Negative Polite Form
To make a verb negative in the polite (masu) form, you replace the final 'masu' with 'masen'. This form is used for both present and future tense.
Tip
Examples in Action
Here are common verbs converted into the negative polite form.
私は肉を食べません。
I do not eat meat.
今日は学校へ行きません。
I will not go to school today.
テレビを見ません。
I do not watch TV.
私はコーヒーを【飲みません】。
Hint: The negative form of 'nomimasu'
I do not drink coffee.
Usage and Nuance
The 'masen' form is standard for polite, formal, or neutral settings. It is the form you should use with strangers, teachers, or superiors.
Formal vs. Plain
飲みません
Polite (Masen form)
Polite, standard
飲まない
Plain (Dictionary form)
Casual, friends only
When should you use the 'masen' form?
- When talking to close friends
- ✓ When talking to a stranger or superior
- When writing a diary for yourself
- When talking to a pet
The 'masen' form is the polite form, appropriate for formal or neutral social interactions.
Deep Dive: Past Negative
If you want to say something did not happen in the past, you use a different ending.
Lesson Summary
You have learned how to negate verbs politely by replacing the 'masu' ending with 'masen'. This is a fundamental skill for maintaining polite communication in Japanese.