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What's the difference between 〜くない and 〜くありません? Both are added to an i-adjective (イ形容詞, verb type adjective) to make it negative. For example:

  • 寒くない
  • 寒くありません

But what's the difference? Is one more polite or more formal than the other?

Is there a term to use to tell them apart. E.g. One is polite Negative etc.

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  • What is a "verb-type-adjective"?
    – user4032
    Apr 14, 2015 at 12:16
  • Same with じゃない vs. ではありません。If you want to use the former in a more formal situation, just say 寒くないです。 Apr 14, 2015 at 14:19
  • @kiss-o-matic Is there a term to use to tell them apart. E.g. One is polite Negative etc.
    – big_smile
    Apr 14, 2015 at 14:53
  • @l'électeur As I understand it, words that end in い are verb-type-adjectives. (I think)
    – big_smile
    Apr 14, 2015 at 14:54
  • @l'électeur some people use terminology "adjectival verbs"/"adjectival nouns" vs. "い-adjectives"/"な-adjectives". I've seen that distinction a lot in lessons on basic grammar.
    – scriptin
    Apr 14, 2015 at 15:23

1 Answer 1

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  • 〜くない (casual)
  • 〜くありません (formal)

It's basically that simple. So saying 寒くありません is more formal than saying 寒くない.

However, I feel that saying 寒くありません is a bit stiff even if you are trying to be polite. Instead, saying 寒くないです sounds more natural and is also more polite than leaving off the です.

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