IntermediateJLPT N2 Grammar

Not (classical/literary negative ~ない)

Romaji: nu

Meaning & usage

Not | An archaic auxiliary that indicates negation.

Example sentences 6

  1. その日本人は英語が分からぬようだった。

    That Japanese did not seem to understand English.

  2. グローバルな時代に自国のことだけを考えるわけにはいかぬ。

    In the global age we cannot think of our own country alone.

  3. 彼は何を聞いても、知らぬとしか答えぬ。

    No matter what I ask, he answers only that he does not know.

  4. 日本語が話せる者はこの辺にはおらぬ。

    In this area there are not people who can speak Japanese.

  5. 最近は滅多に酒を飲まぬが、若い頃はよく飲んだものだ。

    I seldom drink these days, but I used to drink a lot when I was young.

  6. 知らぬことを知らぬと言うには勇気が要る。

    When you don't know something, it takes courage to admit it.