Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 6: 17/20

ぬ

Classical negative, Classical verb [ない]

Some set phrases cannot be rephrased to ない

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ぬ
Verb［ない］+ ぬ + Noun

Exceptions:
する ￫ せぬ
くる ￫ こぬ
いる ￫ おらぬ

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ぬ

ぬ is the attributive form of ず, a classical auxiliary verb that is used for negation like ない, and connects to verbs in the same way.
As ぬ is the attributive form of ず, it may be seen modifying nouns that directly follow it. However, this use is not common in modern times, and in many cases it will be used as part of set expressions that have not changed in the time since ない became the far more widely used structure for negation. Alternatively, it may just be used for artistic expression, or to make a character seem 'classical'.
  • こんなに狭(せま)い道(みち)は通(とお)れぬ。
    I cannot pass a road this narrow.
  • なんだこの飯(めし)は！こんなまずそうなものは口(くち)に入(い)れぬ！
    What is this food? I will not put this disgusting thing in my mouth!
  • 貴様(きさま)みたいなものには、わしなど殺(ころ)せぬ。
    I cannot be killed by someone like you.
In the case that the verb being negated is いる, the old fashion おる will be modified to おらぬ instead.
  • 鈴木(すずき)殿(どの)はここにはおらぬ。
    Suzuki-dono is not here.
Alternatively, する will be negated as せぬ, and くる will be negated as こぬ. This is consistent with the standard conjugation patterns seen with the use of ず.
  • あの方(かた)は人(ひと)を傷(きず)つけるようなことはせぬ。
    That person would never do anything to hurt anyone.
  • 婆(ばあ)さんが川(かわ)から帰(かえ)ってこぬ。
    My wife won't come back from the river.

Examples

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    「隅(すみ)に置(お)けぬ人(ひと)」というのは「侮(あなど)れない人(ひと)」ということなのだ。

    'A person who (can't be placed) in a corner' means 'a person who cannot be taken lightly'.

    こちらでは性(せい)による差別(さべつ)は許可(きょか)されておらぬ。

    Sex discrimination is not permitted here.

    「愚(おろ)か者(もの)、男(おとこ)には殺(ころ)せぬのだ。」

    'Fool, no man can kill me.'

    言(い)うまでもないことだが、知人(ちじん)に対(たい)して素知(そし)らぬふりをするのは失礼(しつれい)である。

    Needless to say, pretending not to know acquaintances is rude.

    上司(じょうし)は部下(ぶか)が向上(こうじょう)できるように、至(いた)らぬ点(てん)を教(おし)えてあげるべきだ。

    A superior should tell his/her subordinates where they fall short so that they can improve.

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      ぬ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

      • s1212z

        s1212z

        There are ~12 V-ず grammar points right now and most are adverbial v-ずに while ぬ is a modifier as an archaic ない. I didn’t see anything that was interchangeable between these two, was there a specific usage that hasn’t been covered yet for ず?

      • Ambo100

        Ambo100

        ずに looks like the most relevant one I think, I’ll have a look at that.

      • airbus29

        airbus29

        it would be cool if in the description for this grammar point, it clarified that the いる→おらぬ for this conjugation also applied to verbs in their ている form (like されている → されておらぬ). its not just for いる by itself, although it may naturally be implied for a lot of people, i didn’t pick up on it from the written description lol

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