Meaning & usage
まい expresses a strong negative intention, like I will not do something, or a negative conjecture that something probably will not happen. It attaches to the dictionary form of godan verbs such as 行くまい, to the stem of ichidan verbs such as 教えまい or 食べまい, and uses すまい for する. It sounds formal and literary, and often appears with と to show resolve or with が to mean whether or not.
Example sentences 6
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彼女は泣くまいと気を張った。
She steeled herself not to cry.
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信じようと信じまいと、私はスカイダイビングに行った。
Believe it or not, I went skydiving.
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あなたが行こうが行くまいが、ぼくは少しもかまわない。
It makes no difference to me whether you go or not.
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彼は一言も聞きもらすまいとたいへん注意して聞いた。
He listened very carefully in order not to miss a single word.
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手がかりを持っていたとしても、彼は君には教えまい。
Even if he has a clue, he won't let you know it.
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金をもうけようともうけまいと、われわれは死ぬのだ。
We die whether we make money or not.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 5 past exam questions.
And 1 more test.
