N2 Intention and Determination

~まい: meaning, usage and examples

~まい means: won't... / will not... (negative intention).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 二度にどとあんな失敗しっぱいはすまい。

   I won't make such a mistake again.

2. もう彼かれには会あうまいと決きめた。

   I decided not to see him anymore.

3. 人ひとに頼たよるまいと思おもっていたが、結局けっきょく手伝てつだってもらった。

   I had resolved not to rely on others, but in the end I got help.

4. 親おやに心配しんぱいをかけまいと、病気びょうきのことを黙だまっていた。

   Not wanting to worry my parents, I kept quiet about my illness.

When to use it

Has two uses. First, a firm decision not to do something: もう二度にどと遅刻ちこくするまい ("I will never be late again"). Second, a guess that something will not happen: 雨あめは降ふるまい ("it probably won't rain"). With と思おもう or と決きめる, it reports a decision, and 〜まいと means "so as not to."

Nuance

Written and somewhat old-fashioned; in conversation people say しないつもりだ or しないだろう. The intention use is for the speaker's own resolve or a third person's reported resolve. It sounds serious and determined.

Compare

ないつもりだ is the everyday way to state a plan: もう行いかないつもりだ. まい sounds firmer and more literary: 二度にどと行いくまい. ないだろう is the everyday guess: 来こないだろう, while 来くるまい is the written version. Context tells you whether まい is a resolve or a guess.

Tip: Learn 〜まいと思おもう (decide not to) and 〜まいと (so as not to) as set phrases: 遅おくれまいと走はしった.