Grammar - Grade 2 List View

Review these list items to study and edit your keyphrase and other memory aids.
Grammar Point
auxiliary verb
aux-v 
suffix
suf 
A Keyphrase should be a short phrase that brings to mind and helps to remember the information on this frame.
ぬ

not

after the -nai stem of a verb

Verb nai-stem + ぬ

The suffix ぬ is an archaic auxiliary verb used to indicate negation, meaning 'not'. It attaches to the nai-stem of a verb, effectively replacing 'ない'. In modern Japanese, it is primarily used in fixed expressions, literary contexts, or when directly modifying a noun or connecting to another auxiliary.

Regular Verbs

For most verbs, take the negative plain form and replace 'ない' with 'ぬ'. This form can stand alone, modify a noun, or connect to an auxiliary.

He never eats meat.

Work that does not end

It appears they do not tell the truth.

Irregular Verb する

The irregular verb する changes its stem to せ before attaching ぬ, becoming せぬ.

She does not study at all.

Irregular Verb おる

The verb おる, which means to exist or to be, changes to おらぬ.

There is no cat in the room.

Note

Because ぬ is an archaic form, it is rarely used in everyday conversational Japanese. You will mostly encounter it in older literature, formal writing, proverbs, or certain regional dialects. It functions grammatically similar to the modern negative suffix ない.

Words: 
ぬ
Radicals of radicals