Posted inN2 Grammar

「〜ようか〜まいか」：Mastering Indecision in Japanese (JLPT N2)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

This grammar pattern means “whether to do X or not to do X.” It expresses a state of strong indecision, hesitation, or internal conflict regarding an action.

🎯 Primary Function

To convey that the speaker (or subject) is torn between two opposing actions or states, unable to make a definitive decision.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Volitional Form) + か + Verb (Plain Negative Form / まい) + か 1. **Group 1 & 2 Verbs (Godan & Ichidan):** * Volitional Form + か + Plain Form + まいか * Example: 買う (kau) → 買おうか買うまいか (kaou ka kaumai ka) * Example: 寝る (neru) → 寝ようか寝るまいか (neyou ka nerumai ka) 2. **Group 3 Verbs (Irregular):** * **する (suru):** しようかするまいか OR しようかすまいか (すまい is a common negative volitional form of する) * **くる (kuru):** 来ようか来まいか (こまい is the negative volitional form of くる) Note: The ‘まい’ form functions as a negative volitional/conjecture, implying ‘will not do’ or ‘won’t do’.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

While the pattern itself is neutral, its usage in formal situations often requires adding polite sentence endings (e.g., 〜迷っています, 〜悩んでいます) to soften the directness of the indecision.

😊 Informal Situations

Very commonly used in informal conversations to express personal dilemmas or uncertainties in daily life.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in narratives, essays, and internal monologues in literature to portray a character’s inner thoughts and struggles.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Widely used in everyday speech when discussing a choice or facing a dilemma.

💡 Common Applications

Making personal choices
Used when the speaker is contemplating a decision and weighing the pros and cons.
Example: 新しい仕事を受けるようか受けるまいか、まだ迷っています。 (Atarashii shigoto o ukeru you ka ukeru mai ka, mada mayotte imasu.) – I’m still undecided whether to accept the new job or not.
Facing dilemmas or difficult situations
Expresses the mental state of being stuck between two courses of action in a challenging situation.
Example: 彼に本当のことを話そうか話すまいか、一晩中考えました。 (Kare ni hontou no koto o hanasou ka hanasumai ka, hitobanjuu kangaemashita.) – I thought all night about whether to tell him the truth or not.
Expressing uncertainty about future actions
When unsure about what action to take in the near future.
Example: 試験勉強をするようかするまいか、テレビのリモコンを手に持ったまま固まっていました。 (Shiken benkyou o suru you ka suru mai ka, terebi no rimokon o te ni motta mama katamatte imashita.) – I froze with the TV remote in my hand, wondering whether to study for the exam or not.
📊
Frequency
Moderate. It is used whenever someone needs to explicitly express strong indecision or an internal dilemma.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2 (Intermediate to Advanced). The irregular negative volitional form and the nuanced meaning require a solid understanding of Japanese verb conjugation and expressive depth.
Example Sentences
新しい仕事を受けるようか受けるまいか、まだ迷っている。
I’m still undecided whether to accept the new job or not.
雨が降ってきた。傘を持って行くようか行くまいか悩む。
It started raining. I’m wondering whether to take an umbrella or not.
彼に本当のことを話そうか話すまいか、一晩中考えた。
I thought all night about whether to tell him the truth or not.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis on Internal Conflict
This pattern specifically highlights an internal struggle or dilemma within the speaker. It’s not just uncertainty, but a genuine difficulty in choosing.
Example: 留学するようかしないかではなく、留学しようか留学すまいか、と葛藤している感じ。 (It’s not just about whether to study abroad or not, but the feeling of being torn between going and not going.)
Often Followed by Verbs of Indecision
The pattern frequently precedes or is used in conjunction with verbs like 迷う (mayou – to hesitate/be lost), 悩む (nayamu – to worry/agonize), or 決める (kimeru – to decide).
Example: 辞めようか辞めるまいか、今も悩んでいます。 (I’m still agonizing over whether to quit or not.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using 〜ない instead of 〜まい for the negative part.
✅ Incorrect: 食べようか食べないか (Tabeyou ka tabenai ka) Correct: 食べようか食べるまいか (Tabeyou ka taberumai ka)
The pattern specifically requires the ‘まい’ form for the negative part, which expresses negative volition or conjecture, creating a stronger sense of internal debate than a simple negative.
❌ Incorrect conjugation for する/くる.
✅ Incorrect: しようかしないか / 来ようか来ないか Correct: しようかするまいか (or しようかすまいか) / 来ようか来まいか
Remember the irregular negative volitional forms: する → するまい / すまい, くる → こまい.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly formal, depending on the verb and the context. It can be used casually, but the phrasing itself carries a certain weight of consideration.
Social Situations: Appropriate for expressing personal dilemmas to close friends, family, or in reflective self-talk. It might be too direct for highly formal business settings unless expressing a dilemma that needs resolution.
Regional Variations: This grammar pattern is standard Japanese and does not have significant regional variations in its form or meaning.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜ようか〜まいか vs. 〜かどうか
While both can express uncertainty, 〜ようか〜まいか specifically conveys a strong internal struggle or hesitation between two opposing actions. 〜かどうか is a more neutral way to express uncertainty, simply asking “whether or not” something is the case, without the strong implication of personal dilemma.
When to use: Use 〜ようか〜まいか when the subject is actively agonizing over a choice. Use 〜かどうか when simply stating uncertainty about a fact or possibility.
〜ようか〜まいか vs. 〜べきか〜べきではないか
〜ようか〜まいか focuses on the personal indecision of whether to perform an action. 〜べきか〜べきではないか focuses on whether an action is morally, logically, or socially advisable/correct.
When to use: Use 〜ようか〜まいか for personal dilemmas. Use 〜べきか〜べきではないか when discussing what “should” or “ought” to be done.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

For Group 1 (Godan) and Group 2 (Ichidan) verbs, ‘まい’ attaches directly to the plain form (dictionary form). For example, 読む (yomu) -> 読まない (yomanai) -> 読むまい (yomumai). For する, the negative volitional is either するまい or すまい. For くる, it’s こまい.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The two ‘か’ particles should be pronounced distinctly. The first ‘か’ (after the volitional form) often has a slight rising intonation, indicating the first option. The second ‘か’ (after the ‘まい’ form) typically has a falling or neutral intonation, concluding the dilemma.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as an internal dialogue: “Should I do [Action A] (ようか)? Or should I definitely NOT do [Action A] (まいか)?” The ‘まい’ part can be remembered as expressing a strong negative intention, akin to “won’t do” or “shall not do.”

Vocabulary List
迷う
mayou
to hesitate, to be lost, to be undecided
悩む
nayamu
to worry, to agonize, to be troubled
決める
kimeru
to decide, to determine
受ける
ukeru
to accept, to receive
仕事
shigoto
job, work
傘
kasa
umbrella
持つ
to hold, to carry
Kanji List
仕事
しごと
job, work
受
う
receive, accept (e.g., 受ける)
迷
まよ
hesitate, lost (e.g., 迷う)
悩
なや
worry, agonize (e.g., 悩む)
決
き
decide (e.g., 決める)
雨
あめ
rain
傘
かさ
umbrella
持
も
hold, carry (e.g., 持つ)
行
い
go (e.g., 行く)
話
はな
speak, talk (e.g., 話す)
本
ほん
real, true (e.g., 本当)
Practice Exercises
明日の会議に出席＿＿＿＿、まだ上司に相談していない。
a) しようかしないか
b) するかしないか
c) しようかするまいか
d) するかするまいか
この難しい問題を＿＿＿＿、彼は何時間も考えていた。
a) 解決しようか解決しないか
b) 解決しようか解決すまいか
c) 解決するか解決するまいか
d) 解決するか解決しないか
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