Meaning
Forms the negative of an i-adjective.
Formation
- い → くない — 寒い → 寒くない; polite 寒くないです or 寒くありません
- いい and かっこいい inflect from よい — よくない
When to use it
- Core use
- Forms the negative of an i-adjective
Examples
13 sentences-
今日は寒くない
It is not cold today.
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このかばんは高くないです
This bag is not expensive.
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この部屋は窓が小さくないです
The window in this room is not small.
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この道は狭くないです
This road is not narrow.
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この帽子は軽くないです
This hat is not light.
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朝の空気は冷たくないです
The morning air is not cold.
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その机は低くないです
That desk is not low.
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新しい靴は柔らかくないです
The new footwear is not soft.
5 more examples
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このカレーは辛くないです
This curry is not spicy.
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海の水は温かくないです
The sea water is not warm.
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その説明は長くないです
That explanation is not long.
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今日の空は青くないです
Today's sky is not blue.
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この方法はよくないです
This method is not good.
Important notes
- Polite negatives: 高くないです or 高くありません. いい and かっこいい inflect from よい: よくない, かっこよくない.
Common mistakes
- Before a noun the negative stays as it is: 高くない店, not 高くないな店. きれい is a na-adjective, so its negative is きれいじゃない.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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