じ

Probably Not (Classical)

Level 6Sounds Like ji

In Classical Japanese (Kobun), じ is the negative counterpart to the conjectural/volitional む. It expresses a subjective 'probably not' or a personal 'I will not.' It is the ancestor of the modern まい.

How It Works

じ is a staple of classical literature and survives today in specific poetic or fossilized contexts. It is characterized by its subjective, speculative tone.

1. Negative Conjecture (打消推量):
When the subject is in the second or third person, じ expresses the speaker's doubt or speculation that something will not happen. It translates to 'probably will not' or 'I doubt that...'
Example: あらじ (Probably does not exist).

2. Negative Volition (打消意志):
When the subject is the speaker (1st person), じ expresses a lack of intention or a refusal to act. It translates to 'I do not intend to' or 'I shall not.'
Example: 行かじ (I shall not go).

3. Connection:
It attaches to the 未然形 (mizenkei):

  • 四段 (Yodan) verbs: 書か + じ = 書かじ
  • 一段 (Ichidan) verbs: 見 + じ = 見じ
  • Irregular verbs: せ + じ (S-irregular), 来 (こ) + じ (K-irregular)

4. Nuance vs. まじ:
While じ is subjective and soft ('I think not'), まじ is objective and strong ('must not', 'cannot', 'definitely will not').

Examples (4)

  1. 一生の恥、これに過ぐるはあらじ。

    There will likely not be a lifelong shame that surpasses this.

    Word by Word: Lifelong shame, this to surpass (topic) exist-not-probably.

    Here, じ is used for negative conjecture (打消推量) regarding a third-person situation. あら is the mizenkei of ある.

  2. さらば、御供には率て行かじ。

    In that case, I do not intend to take you along as my attendant.

    Word by Word: If so, attendant as lead-go-not-intend.

    In this context, the speaker is expressing their own negative volition (打消意志). 行か is the mizenkei of 行く.

  3. 浅き夢見じ、酔ひもせず。

    I shall not see shallow dreams, nor be deluded.

    Word by Word: Shallow dreams see-not-intend, intoxication even do-not.

    This is a famous line from the Iroha poem. 見じ uses the mizenkei of 見る to express negative volition.

  4. 京にはあらじとおもふ。

    I think I shall not stay in the capital.

    Word by Word: Capital in exist-not-intend (quotation) think.

    The speaker expresses their intention not to remain in Kyoto. The じ follows the mizenkei of the verb あり.

Common Mistakes

  • Attaching じ to the wrong verb base.

    読むじ
    読まじ

    In classical Japanese, じ must attach to the 未然形 (mizenkei / Irrealis base), not the 終止形 (shūshikei / Terminal form). For the verb 読む, the mizenkei is 読ま.

  • Confusing じ with まじ for strong prohibitions.

    ここに入るべからず。入らじ。
    ここに入るべからず。入るまじ。

    じ is a soft, subjective negative conjecture. If you want to express a strong 'must not' or 'should not,' the auxiliary まじ is appropriate.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

じLevel 6Probably Not (Classical)

Learn This First

The pattern 'じ' is a classical Japanese auxiliary used for negative conjecture ('probably will not') or negative intention ('will not'). It is the classical counterpart to the modern 'まい'. To understand it, learners should be familiar with how verbs conjugate into stems and how modern Japanese expresses similar concepts of probability and will.

Words in This Pattern

じ