sensushiClassroom

N2 — outside your level filter

まい

まいmaiN2literary

surely won't; I shall never — the classical negative of だろう and of （よ）う

今いまさら謝あやまっても、彼女かのじょの気きは変かわるまい。

imasara ayamatte mo, kanojo no ki wa kawarumai.

Apologising at this point will surely not change her mind. neutral

あんな思おもいは二度にどとするまい、と心こころに決きめた。

anna omoi wa nido to surumai, to kokoro ni kimeta.

I resolved that I would never put myself through that again. neutral

Same meaning15

probably; might; should be

All examples5

surely won't; I shall never — said like it's already decided

  1. 今いまさら謝あやまっても、彼女かのじょの気きは変かわるまい。

    imasara ayamatte mo, kanojo no ki wa kawarumai.

    Apologising at this point will surely not change her mind. neutral

  2. これは単たんなる偶然ぐうぜんではあるまい。

    kore wa tannaru guuzen de wa arumai.

    This can hardly be mere coincidence. neutral

  3. その件けんにつきましては、ご心配しんぱいには及およびますまい。

    sono ken ni tsukimashite wa, go shinpai ni wa oyobimasumai.

    As for that matter, there will surely be no cause for concern. formal

I shall never — a promise you make only to yourself

  1. あんな思おもいは二度にどとするまい、と心こころに決きめた。

    anna omoi wa nido to surumai, to kokoro ni kimeta.

    I resolved that I would never put myself through that again. neutral

  2. この話はなしは誰だれにも打うち明あけまいと決きめていた。

    kono hanashi wa dare ni mo uchiakemai to kimete ita.

    I had made up my mind never to tell anyone about this. neutral

How it's formed1

Notes

The "won't ever" sense only works for yourself. Today it mostly survives
in ではあるまいか, 〜まいと思おもう, and after ます in keigo.