Translation guide
The English copula negation 'is not' has no single direct equivalent in Japanese. The correct expression depends on what is being negated: a noun/adjective identity, a location, an action, or a state. This guide covers the most common patterns for learners.
Express that something is not a certain thing or does not have a certain quality, using a noun or na-adjective.
Standard negative form of the copula だ. Used in plain speech and writing. Attach directly to a noun or na-adjective stem.
Contracted, more casual form of ではない. Very common in everyday conversation.
それ、本じゃないよ。
That's not a book.
彼は学生じゃない。
He's not a student.
Polite form of ではない. Used in formal situations, with superiors, or in polite writing.
これは本ではありません。
This is not a book.
Polite form of じゃない. Slightly less formal than ではありません but still polite.
それは本じゃありません。
That is not a book.
Express that something does not have a certain quality described by an i-adjective.
Replace the final い of an i-adjective with くない to make the negative plain form.
Express that something does not exist or is not located somewhere.
Negative form of いる, used for animate beings (people, animals). Plain form.
Express that an action is not performed or a state does not hold.
Express that something was not a certain way in the past.
Plain past negative of だ. Used for nouns and na-adjectives.
それは本ではなかった。
That was not a book.
Casual past negative of だ.
English 'is not' changes form depending on what follows. In Japanese, the negative form attaches to the predicate (noun, adjective, verb) itself. There is no standalone word for 'is not'.
ではない is used in writing and formal speech. じゃない is the contracted form used in casual conversation. Both are plain forms; add です for politeness.
Polite negative form of i-adjectives. Replace い with くありません.
この本は高くありません。
This book is not expensive.
Polite form using くない + です. Common in polite conversation.
この本は高くないです。
This book is not expensive.
部屋に誰もいない。
There is no one in the room.
Negative form of ある, used for inanimate objects and abstract things. Plain form.
机の上に本がない。
There is no book on the desk.
Polite negative of いる.
先生は教室にいません。
The teacher is not in the classroom.
Polite negative of ある.
ここにペンがありません。
There is no pen here.
Polite negative form of verbs. Replace ない with ません.
私は肉を食べません。
I do not eat meat.
彼は学生じゃなかった。
He was not a student.
Plain past negative of i-adjectives. Replace い with くなかった.
昨日は寒くなかった。
It was not cold yesterday.