Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses strong negation or the idea that something is highly unlikely, impossible, or unreasonable.
🎯 Primary Function
To strongly deny a possibility or assumption, often implying that the idea is unreasonable or should not be the case. Can carry nuances of resignation or criticism.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + でもあるまい
な-adjective stem + でもあるまい
Verb Plain form + の/こと + でもあるまい (Less common)
い-adjective + いのでもあるまい (Less common)
ものでもあるまい (Common variation following Verb/Noun/Adj)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in more formal discussions, speeches, or arguments to make a strong point.
Informal Situations
Less common, can sound stiff or overly dramatic in casual conversation.
Written Language
Relatively common in essays, articles, literature, and formal communication.
Spoken Language
Less frequent than in written language, mostly used in formal or rhetorical speech.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing that something is not a simple or easy matter.
Used to emphasize that a situation, task, or problem is complex, difficult, or cannot be easily dismissed or achieved. It denies the possibility that it’s simple.
Example: そんな簡単な問題であるまい。(It is unlikely to be such a simple problem. / That is probably not a simple problem.)
Denying a commonly held belief or assumption.
To challenge the idea that something is true, certain, or universally applicable.
Example: 誰もが成功できるわけであるまい。(It is not the case that everyone can succeed. / It is unlikely that everyone can succeed.)
Expressing impossibility or extreme unlikelihood.
To state that something is completely out of the question or highly improbable in the current circumstances.
Example: 今から始めて間に合うというものでもあるまい。(Starting now, it’s not as though we will make it in time. / It is unlikely we will make it in time starting now.)
Frequency
Low to Medium-low in general conversation, but higher in formal or written contexts.
Difficulty
High (N1). Requires understanding of nuanced negation and formal/literary style.
Example Sentences
彼がそんなことをする人間であるまい。
He is not the kind of person who would do such a thing. / It is unlikely he would do such a thing.
この程度の雨で中止になることもであるまい。
It is unlikely it will be cancelled with this amount of rain.
人生、いつも楽しいことばかりであるまい。
Life is not always just fun things. / It is unlikely that life is always just fun things.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Expresses strong doubt or negation.
It asserts that the preceding statement or idea is highly unlikely, impossible, or unreasonable.
Example: 明日晴れるでもあるまい。(It is unlikely to be sunny tomorrow.)
Often has a rhetorical nuance.
It can be used to make a point forcefully by denying an alternative, often undesirable, possibility.
Example: 彼が一人でやったでもあるまい。誰かの助けがあったはずだ。(He couldn’t possibly have done it alone. There must have been someone’s help.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it in casual conversation with friends or family.
✅ Use less formal expressions like ～はずがない (hazu ga nai), ～ないだろう (nai darou), or ～わけがない (wake ga nai).
〜でもあるまい sounds quite formal or literary and can feel unnatural or overly dramatic in casual settings.
❌ Confusing it with simple negation like ～ではない (dewa nai).
✅ Understand that 〜でもあるまい carries a stronger sense of doubt, impossibility, or rhetorical denial than simple negation.
It is not merely stating that something “is not” the case, but rather that it is “unlikely,” “impossible,” “couldn’t be,” or “shouldn’t be” the case.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to slightly formal. Can sound assertive or even critical depending on the tone and context.
Social Situations: Suitable for formal arguments, discussions, debates, or writing (essays, articles). Less common in everyday pleasantries or light conversation.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese grammar; not known for significant regional variations in usage or meaning.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜でもあるまい vs 〜はずがない (hazu ga nai)
Both express strong negation or impossibility. 〜はずがない is more direct and often based on logical impossibility or strong evidence (“there is no way that…”). 〜でもあるまい can feel slightly more rhetorical, literary, or carry a nuance of resignation (“it is unlikely to be…”, “it couldn’t possibly be that…”, implying the idea is unreasonable).
When to use: Use 〜はずがない for a direct assertion of impossibility based on logical reasoning or strong evidence. Use 〜でもあるまい in more formal or literary contexts, or when expressing a strong feeling of unlikelihood or a sense of resignation that the contrary is not possible.
〜でもあるまい vs 〜ないだろう (nai darou)
〜ないだろう expresses probability (“probably won’t…”, “likely isn’t…”). 〜でもあるまい expresses stronger doubt or practical impossibility (“unlikely to be…”, “couldn’t be…”, often implying the idea is unreasonable).
When to use: Use 〜ないだろう when expressing a lower degree of certainty regarding a negative outcome or state. Use 〜でもあるまい when expressing a higher degree of certainty in the negation or when emphasizing the unreasonableness of the alternative possibility.
〜でもあるまい vs 〜まい (mai)
〜まい is a negative volition/probability auxiliary (“will not”, “probably not”). 〜でもあるまい can be seen as derived from 〜であろう + あるまい. It is specifically used with Noun/Na-adj (and sometimes Verb/I-adj via の/こと/ので) to express strong negation/unlikelihood, whereas 〜まい attaches directly to verb roots (except する/くる).
When to use: Use 〜まい for negative volition or probability with verbs. Use 〜でもあるまい specifically for the pattern described in this article, typically with Nouns and な-adjectives.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Attaches directly to Noun and な-adjective stems. When following verbs or い-adjectives, it typically requires an intermediate noun like の, こと, or もの, often forming patterns like Verb Plain + の/こと + でもあるまい, or い-adj + いのでもあるまい, Noun/Na-adj + ものであるまい. The core pattern is Noun/Na-adj stem + でもあるまい.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The 「であろう」 part is often contracted or pronounced fluidly before 「あるまい」, sounding like 「であろうあるまい」 which simplifies to 「でもあるまい」. Practice saying the example sentences aloud to get a feel for the rhythm.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 〜でもあるまい as a more formal, stronger version of 〜ではないだろう (probably isn’t / isn’t likely to be). Connect it to 〜であろう (probably is / will be) + 〜まい (negative probability). The combination strongly denies the likelihood of the preceding statement.
Vocabulary List
簡単
kantan
Simple, Easy
問題
mondai
Problem, Question
人間
ningen
Person, Human being
程度
teido
Degree, Amount, Extent
中止
chuushi
Cancellation, Suspension
人生
jinsei
Life
失敗
Failure, Mistake
Kanji List
簡
かん
Simple
単
たん
Single, Simple
問
もん
Question
題
だい
Title, Topic, Problem
人
じん、にん
Person
間
かん
Interval, Between
程
てい
Degree, Extent
度
ど
Degree, Time
中
ちゅう
Middle, Inside
止
し
Stop
生
せい
Life, Birth
Practice Exercises
そんなに簡単にうまくいく____。 (It’s unlikely to go well that easily.)
① わけではない
② はずがない
③ ことでもあるまい
④ そうだ
彼はまだ子供だ。自分で全部できる____。 (He’s still a child. It’s not as though he can do everything himself.)
① ことであるまい
② でもあるまい
③ でないだろう
④ に違いない
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