Translation guide
A strong negative response or denial, used to emphatically reject a suggestion, possibility, or assumption. In Japanese, this is expressed through various negative sentence-ending patterns, adverbs, and set phrases, rather than a single direct translation.
Strongly denying a statement, suggestion, or request, often with emotional emphasis.
A strong denial meaning 'absolutely not', 'no way', or 'don't be ridiculous'. Often used to reject compliments or suggestions.
「手伝ってくれてありがとう。」「とんでもない。」
"Thank you for helping." "Certainly not! (Don't mention it.)"
Expresses disbelief or strong denial, like 'no way', 'surely not', or 'certainly not'. Often used when something is unthinkable.
まさか彼が犯人じゃないよね。
Certainly he's not the culprit, right?
A formal/written pattern meaning 'never' or 'by no means'. Stronger and more literary than 絶対に.
決して諦めない。
I will certainly not give up.
Politely or firmly correcting someone's wrong assumption or statement.
Literally 'it is not that kind of situation', used to deny an interpretation. Equivalent to 'that's not the case' or 'certainly not'.
彼が嫌いなわけではない。
It's certainly not that I dislike him.
Casual pattern meaning 'not particularly' or 'not really'. Often used to downplay or deny an assumption.
別に怒ってないよ。
I'm certainly not angry.
Stating that something is not allowed or not possible.
Means 'cannot afford to' or 'must not', often due to social or moral obligation. Implies 'certainly not' in the sense of impossibility.
ここで諦めるわけにはいかない。
I certainly cannot give up here.
Expresses strong conviction that something is impossible. 'There's no way that...' or 'certainly not'.
彼がそんなことをするはずがない。
He certainly wouldn't do such a thing.
There is no single Japanese word that directly translates 'certainly not' in all contexts. Using a literal combination like 確かに～ない often sounds unnatural. Instead, choose a pattern that matches the intended nuance (denial, correction, impossibility).
絶対に is common in everyday speech and writing, while 決して is more formal and often used in written language or serious declarations. 決して carries a stronger sense of 'never' or 'by no means'.