Translation guide
The English phrase "am not" is a negative form of "be" used with "I". In Japanese, there is no direct equivalent because verbs and adjectives themselves conjugate for negation. This guide covers how to express "I am not" in various contexts.
Expressing "I am not [noun/na-adjective]"
Standard polite negative form of the copula だ. Used in formal and written contexts.
私は学生ではない。
I am not a student.
それは簡単ではない。
That is not easy.
Casual contraction of ではない. Very common in everyday speech.
私は先生じゃない。
I'm not a teacher.
それ、好きじゃない。
I don't like that. (lit. That is not liked.)
Very polite negative form. Used in formal speech and writing.
私は医者ではありません。
I am not a doctor.
Polite negative form, slightly less formal than ではありません.
私は日本人じゃありません。
I am not Japanese.
Expressing "I am not [i-adjective]"
Expressing "I do not [verb]"
Expressing "there is not" for inanimate objects
Plain form meaning "there is not". Used for inanimate things.
Expressing "there is not" for people/animals
Plain negative of いる (to exist, animate).
Using casual contractions for "am not"
Very casual contraction of じゃない, used in some dialects or slang. Often rhetorical.
Japanese does not have a word for "am". The copula だ/です is used for noun and na-adjective predicates, but it is not a verb like "be". For i-adjectives and verbs, negation is built into the word itself.
In Japanese, the subject (like "I") is often omitted when clear from context. So "am not" can often be expressed with just the negative predicate.
This book is not expensive.
Polite negative form of i-adjectives.
この部屋は広くありません。
This room is not spacious.
Polite casual negative form. Common in conversation.
その映画は面白くないです。
That movie is not interesting.
He does not come.
Polite negative form of verbs.
私はお酒を飲みません。
I do not drink alcohol.
お金がない。
I have no money. (lit. Money does not exist.)
There is no one.
That's good, isn't it? (lit. That is not good?)