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Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“is not,” “am not,” “are not.”

🎯 Primary Function

To negate the copula or the predicate of a sentence, signifying the opposite of ‘is’ (だ/です).

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun / Na-Adjective Stem + じゃない / ではない

N/A (I-Adjectives use the -くない form)

Na-Adjective Stem + じゃない / ではない

Noun / Na-Adjective Stem + じゃない (Casual) / ではない (Standard)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

ではない is used, often followed by です/でした (e.g., ではありません). This is the standard polite negative form.

😊 Informal Situations

じゃない is widely used in casual conversation and with close friends or family.

✍️ Written Language

ではない is the standard negative form used in essays, reports, newspapers, and formal correspondence. じゃない is restricted to dialogue or very casual writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

じゃない is extremely common. ではない is used when speaking formally, in interviews, or public addresses.

💡 Common Applications

Negating a Noun

Used to state that an item or person is not a particular category or identity. This is the most common use.

Example: これは辞書じゃない。 (Kore wa jisho janai.)

Negating a Na-Adjective (Predicative)

Used to negate the quality described by a Na-adjective. The ‘な’ particle is dropped, and the stem is used with じゃない/ではない.

Example: この部屋は静かじゃない。 (Kono heya wa shizuka janai.)

Forming a Question of Confirmation

When used with a rising intonation, it can function as a rhetorical question or seeking confirmation, similar to “Isn’t it…?” or “Right?”

Example: 明日、休みじゃない？ (Ashita, yasumi janai?)

📊

Frequency

Very High (Essential basic communication)

🎚️

Difficulty

N5 (Beginner)

Tag:

JLPT N5 Grammar List

Example Sentences

Example #1

それは嘘じゃありません。

Furigana: それはうそじゃありません。

Romaji: Sore wa uso ja arimasen.

English: That is not a lie.

Example #2

私は医者ではありません。

Furigana: わたしはいしゃではありません。

Romaji: Watashi wa isha dewa arimasen.

English: I am not a doctor.

Example #3

この本は便利じゃありません。

Furigana: このほんはべんりじゃありません。

Romaji: Kono hon wa benri ja arimasen.

English: This book is not useful.

Example #4

あの人は健二さんじゃない？

Furigana: あのひとはけんじさんじゃない？

Romaji: Ano hito wa Kenji-san janai?

English: Isn’t that person Kenji?

Example #5

試験の結果は満足ではありませんでした。

Furigana: しけんのけっかはまんぞくではなかったです。

Romaji: Shiken no kekka wa manzoku de wa nakatta deshita.

English: The test result was not satisfactory.

Example #6

一番の理由は、お金ではない。

Furigana: いちばんのりゆうはおかねではない。

Romaji: Ichiban no riyū wa, okane de wa nai.

English: The main reason is not money.

Example #7

この鞄は私のじゃないよ。

Furigana: このかばんはわたしのじゃないよ。

Romaji: Kono kaban wa watashi no janai yo.

English: This bag is not mine.

Example #8

危険じゃないから、安心してください。

Furigana: きけんじゃないから、あんしんしてください。

Romaji: Kiken janai kara, anshin shite kudasai.

English: Since it is not dangerous, please calm down.

Example #9

昨日の電車は便利じゃなかったです。

Furigana: きのうのでんしゃはべんりじゃなかったです。

Romaji: Kinō no densha wa benri ja nakatta desu.

English: The train was not convenient yesterday.

Example #10

本当じゃないって言ったでしょう！

Furigana: ほんとうじゃないっていったでしょう！

Romaji: Hontō janai tte itta deshō!

English: I told you that’s not true!

Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Origin of the ‘De’ particle

The particle は is sometimes omitted in casual speech before じゃない, but it is necessary for clarity in standard forms. The particle で in ではない originates from the Te-form of the copula.

Example: あれは富士山ではない。 (Are wa Fujisan dewa nai.)

Contraction ‘じゃ’ vs. ‘では’

While ではない is the standard form, じゃありません is the most common polite conversational contraction of the negative copula.

Example: 元気じゃありません。 (Genki ja arimasen.)

Plain Form Status

Since じゃない is the plain form, it should not be followed by です unless the speaker is trying to sound polite while using a casual structure (which is generally awkward). Use ではありません instead.

Example: 彼は日本人じゃない。 (Kare wa Nihonjin janai.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 使わないじゃない (Tsukawanai janai) for “I don’t use.”

✅ 使えません / 使えないです (Tsukaemasen / Tsukaenai desu)

‘じゃない’ cannot be attached directly to verbs in the negative form. The standard negative verb form (V-masen or V-nai) must be used.

❌ 寒いじゃない (Samui janai) for “It is not cold.”

✅ 寒くない (Samukunai)

I-adjectives use the -くない ending for negation, not じゃない/ではない.

❌ ではありませんでした (Dewa arimasen deshita) for past negative.

✅ ではなかった (dewa nakatta) / じゃなかった (janakatta)

The negative copula must be conjugated to the past tense to express “was not.”

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: じゃない is casual/plain form. ではない is the standard plain form, often used in writing. ではありません is the polite/formal negative form.

Social Situations: Always use ではありません when speaking to superiors, teachers, or customers. Use じゃない with friends.

Regional Variations: In some Kansai dialects, the negative copula is slightly different (e.g., やない, yanai), but じゃない is universally understood.

🔍 Subtle Differences

じゃない vs. ではありません

じゃない is casual, plain form. ではありません is polite, standard form.

When to use: Use ではありません in any polite context (work, school, strangers). Use じゃない with close peers.

ではない vs. じゃありません

ではない is the plain form of the formal negative copula. じゃありません is the standard conversational polite contraction.

When to use: Use ではない in formal writing. Use じゃありません in polite spoken Japanese.

📝 Conjugation Notes

The basic negative copula ではない (dewa nai) conjugates like an i-adjective: * Past Negative: ではなかった (dewa nakatta) * Te-form: ではなくて (dewa nakute) * Polite Negative: ではありません (dewa arimasen) * Polite Past Negative: ではありませんでした (dewa arimasen deshita)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘じゃ’ (ja) sound is pronounced quickly, like the ‘ja’ in “jargon.” In the formal ではない (dewa nai), make sure to pronounce the ‘de wa’ clearly, often with a slight pause between ‘de’ and ‘wa’.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of じゃない as the opposite of だ (da). The ‘Ja’ (じゃ) is a contraction of ‘Dewa’ (では). Memorize the most polite form: Noun + ではありません (dewa arimasen).

Other Grammar

thuandao

I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.

✨ Basic Meaning

🎯 Primary Function

📋 Grammar Structure

🎭 Usage Contexts

💡 Common Applications

📌 Important Points

⚠️ Common Mistakes

🏛️ Cultural Context

🔍 Subtle Differences

📝 Conjugation Notes

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

🧠 Memory Tips

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✨ Basic Meaning

🎯 Primary Function

📋 Grammar Structure

🎭 Usage Contexts

💡 Common Applications

Related Kanji

Related Vocabulary

📌 Important Points

⚠️ Common Mistakes

🏛️ Cultural Context

🔍 Subtle Differences

📝 Conjugation Notes

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

🧠 Memory Tips

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