JLPT N5 Grammar (janai / dewa nai)

Meaning

to not be (am not; is not; are not)

How to use

present
negative
casual
じゃない
ではない

polite

じゃありません
ではありません
past
negative
casual
じゃなかった
ではなかった

polite

じゃありませんでした
ではありませんでした
janai dewa nai じゃない ではない jlpt n5 grammar meaning 文法例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (janai) & (dewa nai). Meaning: to not be (am not; is not; are not).

Make sure you review “to be” Part 1, before starting this lesson: .

Both and are at the casual level, and can be interchanged freely.

Example A)

watashi wa tomoko sensei dewanai.

I am not Tomoko-sensei.

This literally translates to “I Tomoko-sensei am not”. Remember that Japanese uses SOV (subject-object-verb), rather than SVO like English. This may be strange at first, but it will become natural after some practice.

Example B)

watashi wa nihonjin janai yo.

I am not Japanese.

When speaking more politely

Using the more polite form is simple. Just drop the (nai) and change to (arimasen):

  • じゃありません (ja nai arimasen)
  • ではありません (dewa nai arimasen)

How to use past tense (was/were not, etc)

learn japanese grammar じゃない janai ではない dewa nai jlpt n5

Casual Past Tense:

  • じゃなかった (ja nakatta)
  • ではなかった (dewa nakatta)

Polite Past Tense:

  • じゃありませんでした (ja arimasen deshita)
  • ではありませんでした (dewa arimasen deshita)
  • じゃなかったです (ja nakatta desu)
  • ではなかったです (dewa nakatta desu)

There are many different conjugations that can be used, but within the same politeness level, they can be interchanged freely. Let’s look at some basic examples:

Past Tense Example A)

watashi wa sore o yaru beki ja nakatta.

I should not have done that.

Past Tense Example B)

watashi wa kinou, hima dewa arimasen deshita.

I was not free yesterday (had no free time).


Extra Study Notes


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

あなたはひとりじゃない。
anata wa hitori janai.
You are not alone.
Example #2

きけんじゃないの?
kiken janai no?
Isn't it dangerous?
Example #3

そんなつもりじゃなかった。
sonna tsumori ja nakatta.
That wasn't my plan/intention.
Example #4

ごめんなさい!わざとではありませんでした。
gomennasai! wazato dewa arimasen deshita.
I'm so sorry! It wasn't intentional.
Example #5

にくはあまりすきじゃないです。
niku wa amari suki janai desu.
I don't really like meat.
Example #6

わかいころはやさいがすきじゃなかった。
wakai koro wa yasai ga suki janakatta.
I didn't like vegetables when I was younger.
Example #7

わたしはにほんごがじょうずではない。
watashi wa nihongo ga jouzu dewa nai.
I am not good at Japanese (language).

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
わたしI; me
先生せんせいteacher suffix
イギリス人いぎりすじんBritish person
やるべきshould do
昨日きのうyesterday
ひまfree time
いまnow
危険きけんdangerous
つもりplan; intention
わざとintentional

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JLPT N5 vocabulary list

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