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Grammar detail: まい
まい - negative volitional
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The negative volitional expresses the idea of wanting something not to happen, or being determined for something not to happen. It evokes the opposite of the normal volitional (which means 'let's ~' or 'shall we'), and even more strongly ('determined not to do'). In Japanese, it is formed by adding まい to the plain form of ごだん verbs, and the verb stem of いちだん verbs (although the plain form is also sometimes used).
For example:
み 見 る (see) | み 見 まい (determined not to see) |
た 食 べる (eat) | た 食 べまい (determined not to eat)Note that 食べるまい is also commonly seen |
| ある (exist) | あるまい (could not possibly exist) |
The まい form can also be attached to the ます form of a verb for additional formality.
For irregular verbs する and くる, various forms are seen in use, but すまい and こまい are most common.
Kanji used in this grammar
セイ ショウ life なま raw いかす to enliven いきる to live いける to arrange flowers うまれる to be born うむ to give birth to き pure, undiluted おう to grow, to sprout はえる to grow, to sprout はやす to grow, cultivate
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