How to Say “Is Not” in Japanese: Using “Wa … Ja Arimasen” and “Wa Ja Nai Desu”

Ready to say “I’m not a student” or “That is not a book” in Japanese?
In this quick beginner lesson, you’ll learn how to make negative sentences using the polite forms “じゃありません(ja arimasen)” and “じゃないです(ja naidesu).”
These are important sentence endings used to say what something is not in Japanese. Let’s master them in just 10 minutes!

What Does “Ja Arimasen” and “Ja Nai Desu” Mean in Japanese?

The structure “A は B じゃありません” or “A は B じゃないです” means:

“As for A, it is not B.”

This is the negative version of “A は B です” (As for A, it is B).
You can use either じゃありません (more formal) or じゃないです (more conversational but still polite).

Forming Negative Sentences with “Wa … Ja Arimasen” and “Wa … Ja Nai Desu”

Understanding “Wa … Ja Arimasen” and “Wa … Ja Nai Desu”

• Both are polite and commonly used in everyday Japanese.
• Pronunciation Tip: じゃ = “Ja” Not “Zya”

Examples of Negative Sentences “〜wa…ja arimasen / ja nai desu”

I am not a teacher.

私は先生じゃありません。
わたしはせんせいじゃありません。
Watashi wa sensei ja arimasen.
As for me, I am not a teacher.

That is not a school.

あれは学校じゃないです。
あれはがっこうじゃないです。
Are wa gakkou ja nai desu.
As for that, it is not a school.

This is not a dictionary.

これは辞書じゃありません。
これはじしょじゃありません。
Kore wa jisho ja arimasen.
As for this, it is not a dictionary.

John is not a student.

ジョンさんは学生じゃないです。
じょんさんはがくせいじゃないです。
Jon-san wa gakusei ja nai desu.
As for Mr. John, he is not a student.

Affirmative vs. Negative

Correcting a misunderstanding

Friend

この人は医者ですか？

このひとはいしゃですか？
Kono hito wa isha desu ka?
As for this person, is he a doctor?

Student

いいえ、医者じゃありません/じゃないです。
いいえ、いしゃじゃありません/じゃないです。
Iie, isha ja arimasen/ja nai desu.
No, he isn’t a doctor.

This is a grammatically correct way to deny something.

Vocabulary from This Lesson

Here are the key Japanese words used in this lesson:

• 先生：せんせい (sensei)：teacher
• 学校：がっこう (gakkou)：school
• 学生：がくせい (gakusei)：student
• 辞書：じしょ (jisho)：dictionary
• じゃありません：じゃありません (ja arimasen)：is not (formal)
• じゃないです：じゃないです (ja nai desu)：is not (polite casual)

📝 Why Learn Negative Sentences in Japanese?

Understanding how to make negative statements like “I am not a student” or “That is not my book” helps you express yourself more clearly in Japanese. This grammar is essential in daily conversation, introductions, and clarifications.