Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 10
Waiting
どうせ ・ 〜っこない ・ 〜ものか ・ 〜まい
In this lesson, you will learn to talk about a result you are waiting for: どうせ for 'anyway, it's settled', 〜っこない for 'there's no way', 〜ものか for 'as if I would!', and 〜まい for 'I will not'. It is a rainy week in July. Lisa is waiting to hear about her interview, and Ryo, at the convenience store, is no help at all.
By the end you will be able to say
どうせ 待つなら、楽しく 待とう。If we have to wait anyway, let's enjoy it.
こんなに たくさん、今日中に 終わりっこない。There's no way I'll finish all this today.
最後まで 諦めるものか。I'll never give up!
もう 心配するまいと 決めた。I've decided not to worry any more.
この 夏の ことは、ずっと 忘れるまい。I will never forget this summer.
The grammar in this lesson
- どうせ — anyway; it's going to turn out that way — どうせ says an outcome is already settled, often a bad one; どうせ 〜なら says 'if it's going to happen anyway, then ...'.
- 〜っこない — there's no way — A verb's ます stem + っこない is a casual, strong 'there's no way': 受かりっこない (no way I'll pass).
- 〜ものか — as if I would! there's no way — A plain form + ものか (casual: もんか) is a strong refusal or denial: 諦めるものか (I'm not giving up!).
- 〜まい — will not; probably not — A verb + まい is a firm, literary 'I will not' (もう 心配するまい: I won't worry any more) or, about something else, 'probably won't'.