JLPT N5 Grammar: じゃない・ではない – Negative of Nouns and Na-Adjectives

By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025

???? Meaning & Usage

じゃない and ではない are used to make the negative form of nouns and na-adjectives.

• じゃない is used in casual conversation.
• ではない is more formal or written Japanese.

They are attached directly to a noun or na-adjective stem.

???? Structure

[Noun / Na-adjective] + じゃない / ではない

Examples:

• 学生じゃない。
  Gakusei ja nai.
  Not a student. (casual)
• 先生ではない。
  Sensei de wa nai.
  Not a teacher. (formal)

???? Example Sentences

• 彼は医者じゃない。
  Kare wa isha ja nai.
  He is not a doctor.
• ここは静かじゃない。
  Koko wa shizuka ja nai.
  It’s not quiet here.
• この人は日本人ではない。
  Kono hito wa Nihonjin de wa nai.
  This person is not Japanese.
• あのレストランは有名じゃない。
  Ano resutoran wa yūmei ja nai.
  That restaurant is not famous.

???? Grammar Notes

• Use じゃない in casual conversation with friends or family.
• Use ではない in writing or formal settings.
• This structure does not apply to i-adjectives or verbs.
• There is also a more formal form: ではありません.

???? Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank with じゃない or ではない:

1. 彼は学生（＿＿）。
2. これは日本語（＿＿）。
3. その人は有名（＿＿）。

✔ Answers:

• じゃない
• ではない
• じゃない

2. Translate into Japanese:

1. That is not a school.
2. I am not a teacher.
3. This town is not quiet.

✔ Sample Answers:

• あれは学校じゃない。
• 私は先生ではない。
• この町は静かじゃない。

???? Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown

???? Summary

• じゃない = casual negative of nouns and na-adjectives
• ではない = formal/written version
• Used for: Making negative statements about identity or state
• Level: JLPT N5

???? Related Grammar & Vocabulary

• JLPT N5 Grammar List – 60 Essential Grammar Points
• が – subject marker; however; but
• がほしい – to want something
• がいます – there is; to be; is (living things)
• ほうがいい – had better; should
• い-adjectives – i-adjectives
• 一番（いちばん） – the most; the best
• 一緒に（いっしょに） – together
• いつも – always; usually; habitually

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.