ない

ない

adjective (i-adjective)

nonexistent, not have

1. nonexistent, there is no

Indicates the absence or non-existence of something. The negative counterpart of ある.

水(みず)がない。

There is no water.

時間(じかん)がない。

I don't have time. / There is no time.

問題(もんだい)はないですか。

Are there no problems? / Is there no issue?

ここには何(なに)もない。

There's nothing here.

心配(しんぱい)はない。

There's nothing to worry about.

2. to not have

Indicates that someone doesn't possess something.

時間(じかん)がない。

I don't have time. / There is no time.

お金(かね)がないので、買(か)えません。

I can't buy it because I don't have money.

今日(きょう)は仕事(しごと)がないから、家(いえ)でゆっくり休(やす)みます。

I don't have work today, so I'll relax at home.

経験(けいけん)がないので、不安(ふあん)だ。

I'm anxious because I don't have experience.

自信(じしん)がない。

I don't have confidence.

興味(きょうみ)がなかった。

I wasn't interested.

ない conjugates as an i-adjective: なくない (negative - 'is it not nonexistent?'), なくて (te-form), なかった (past). ない is the negative form of ある (to exist/have for inanimate things). For animate things (people/animals), the negative of いる is いない. The kanji 無(な)い is sometimes used but hiragana is more common.

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:32 · Revised 2026.3.5 21:46

01000/01118_nai