ない
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Base negative adjective form used to express non-existence or lack. It conjugates like an i-adjective but is often treated as a standalone negative marker.
Theme
In a park, User and their friend Satoshi are discussing plans for a weekend picnic and checking what items they have or lack.
ない
ない
there isn't / doesn't have
Core Language Building BlocksCore Forms & Grammar Patterns
Memory Hook
Think of 'nay' meaning 'no' — 'nay' sounds like ない (nai, 'there isn't'). 'Nay, it's not here!' → ない (nai, 'there isn't').
Cultural Note
『ない』 (nai) is a fundamental negative form in Japanese, commonly used in everyday speech to indicate absence or lack, such as 『お金がない』 (okane ga nai, 'I don't have money').
Forms
Base: ないBase negative adjective form used to express non-existence or lack. It conjugates like an i-adjective but is often treated as a standalone negative marker.
Negative: なくないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『なくない』 (nakunai). This double negative is rare but grammatically possible.
Past: なかったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『なかった』 (nakatta).
Adverbial: なくDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『なく』 (naku). Used to modify verbs or connect clauses.
Comparative: よりないComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective. Rarely used in practice.
Superlative: 一番ないSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective. Rarely used in practice.