しない
shinai
In Japanese, "I will not" is expressed as しない (shinai).
This phrase is used to express a refusal or a decision not to perform a certain action. Because the subject is often omitted in Japanese, しない can mean "I will not do" or simply "does not do" depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
しない expresses a decision or a fact of not doing something. It is distinct from dekinai, which expresses a lack of ability (meaning "cannot").
How does it change in a sentence?
The form しない is the plain/informal version. To create the polite version しません, the suffix ません is added to the verb stem し.
How do you pronounce it?
shinai
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, saying しない directly to a superior can be seen as overly aggressive. To be polite, people often say ちょっと ('a little') and then trail off, letting the listener infer the refusal without ever saying 'I will not'.
- While しない means 'will not', adding the particle は to create はしない emphasizes a strong, determined resolve. This specific form is frequently used in dramatic dialogue in anime and manga to signal a character's unwavering will.
- The verb する used in しない is one of the most flexible words in Japanese. It can turn almost any noun into a verb, meaning しない can be used to refuse everything from 'study' to 'romance' just by adding a noun in front.
Examples in context
- 今日は、もう何もしない。Kyō wa, mō nani mo shinai.I will not do anything else today.
- 明日のパーティーには行かないし、準備もしない。Ashita no pātī ni wa ikanai shi, junbi mo shinai.I won't go to the party tomorrow, and I won't prepare for it.
Example conversation
Ren is trying to convince Yui to go out, but she is tired.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、一緒に遊びに行かない？Yui, issho ni asobi ni ikanai?Yui, won't you go out playing with me?
- 結衣 Yuiごめん、今日はどこにも行かない。Gomen, kyō wa doko ni mo ikanai.Sorry, I will not go anywhere today.
- 蓮 Ren本当に？少しだけなら大丈夫だよ。Hontō ni? Sukoshi dake nara daijōbu da yo.Really? It's okay if it's just for a little bit.
- 結衣 Yuiだめ、今日は何もしたくないし、何もしない。Dame, kyō wa nani mo shitakunai shi, nani mo shinai.No, I don't want to do anything today, and I will not do anything.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry しない, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
