* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته 

Hi, everyone ^.^

i saw the below amazing lesson in the website of Maggie sensei (Click Here)
it  helps me to understand じゃない ( = janai) ＆〜んじゃない ( = ~ njanai)

*Note: 

1- Maggie sensei lesson contain audio , its available in the above link 
2- Kaname Naito Sensei also spoke about the same subject in one of his YouTube video's as below:
 


Lets start :)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 


Today’s lesson is about how to use じゃない ( = janai) and んじゃない ( = njanai)
It is one of the suffixes that you see/hear all the time, and I bet you learned it when you just started to learn Japanese.
You would think it’s simple, but I found out that many people actually get confused. You can see that by the length of this lesson that there is a lot to learn.
FYI there are not many colors that I can use so this is about as far as I can go with the changes. I hope you all understand.)
It’s a long lesson, so be sure to come back and review again and again!


⭐️ 〜じゃない ( = janai)
🔸 じゃない ( = janai) is a casual form of ではない（ = dewa nai).

Let’s start with something really basic.
How to form a negative sentence with じゃない ( = janai):

🔹 noun, pronoun + じゃない ( = janai)

*私じゃない = watashi janai= not me
*マギーじゃない = Maggie janai = not Maggie
*これじゃない = kore janai = not this
*この本じゃない = kono hon janai = not this book

🔹　na-adjective plain form →delete な ( = na) and add じゃない ( = janai)

*元気じゃない = genki janai = not cheerful, not energetic, not healthy
*好きじゃない = suki janai = not to like

🔹 Past tense :〜じゃなかった( = ~ janakatta) (+ more polite : です ( = desu))

*マギーじゃなかった。= Maggie janakatta. = not Maggie
*元気じゃなかった。= Genki janakatta = not cheerful, energetic, healthy

★How to use じゃない ( = janai) in a negative sentence.

●マギーは猫ではない。

= Maggie wa neko de wa nai.

= Maggie is not a cat.
↓

●マギーは猫じゃない。

= Maggie wa neko janai.

= Maggie is not a cat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
(more polite)

●マギーは猫ではないです。
= Maggie wa neko de wa nai desu.

↓

●マギーは猫じゃないです。

= Maggi wa neko janai desu.

or (the same meaning.)

●マギーは猫ではありません。

= Maggie wa neko de wa arimasen.
↓

●マギーは猫じゃありません。

= Maggie wa neko ja arimasen.

So you can use じゃない ( = janai) in a simple negative sentence.


Ex.あそこのビーチはそんなにきれいじゃなかった。
= Asoko no biichi wa sonnani kirei ja nakatta.
= That beach was not that clean (or beautiful).


Ex. 宣伝で見た薬はこれじゃなかったよ。
= Senden de mita kusuri wa kore janakatta yo.
= The medicine I saw on the commercial is not this one.


Ex. 昔はあんな人じゃなかったのに..
= Mukashi wa anna hito janakatta noni.
= He/She was not that kind of person before….


Ex. 今日はあんまり元気じゃない。
= Kyou wa annmari genki janai.
= I don’t feel so good today. (I am not in good spirits today.)


Ex. 私は英語が上手じゃないから海外に行きたくない。
= Watashi eigo ga jouzu janai kara kaigai ni ikitaku nai.

= I am not good at English so I don’t want to go abroad.


Ex. そうじゃないと思います。
= Sou janai to omoimasu.
= I don’t think so.


Ex. つけまつげをすると私じゃないみたいに見える。
= Tsukematsuge wo suru to watashi janai mitai ni mieru.
= I look different (←I don’t look like myself) when I wear fake eyelashes.


Note: Be careful. You can’t make a negative form of i-adjective with ではない ( = dewa nai) and じゃない ( = janai).


❌ wrong! かわいいじゃない ( = kawaii janai) →かわいくない ( = kawaikunai)

❌ wrong ! 動くじゃない ( = ugoku janai) →動かない ( = ugokanai)

BUT you can make a positive sentence with it! Keep reading! I will explain that form a little later in the lesson.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

★To use じゃない ( = janai) in a negative question.　”Isn’t it”, “Aren’t they”, etc.

*(noun/ pronoun + じゃない ( = janai) / na-adjective : delete な and add じゃない ( = janai))


●ではありませんか？
=~ de wa arimasenka?

↓

●～じゃありませんか？
~ ~ jaarimasenka?


or
●～ではないですか？
= ~ de wa nai desu ka?
↓



●～じゃないですか？
= ~ janai desu ka?
↓



(more casual)

●～じゃない?
= ～janai?




●これは、彼の辞書ではありませんか？
= Kore wa kare no jisho de wa arimasenka?
= Isn’t this his dictionary?
↓


●これは、彼の辞書じゃありませんか？
= Kore wa, kare no jisho jaarimasen ka?


or

●これは、彼の辞書ではないですか？
= Kore wa, kare no jisho dewa nai desu ka?

↓
●これは、彼の辞書じゃないですか？
= Kore wa, kare no jisho janai desu ka?

In casual conversation, we omit particles and ですか ( = desuka).

●これ、彼の辞書じゃない？
= Kore, kare no jisho janai?

= Isn’t this his dictionary?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Ex. すみません。マギー先生じゃないですか？
= Sumimasen. Maggie sensei janai desuka?
= Excuse me, but aren’t you Maggie Sensei?


Ex. あれ、マギーじゃない？
= Are Maggie janai?
= Isn’t that Maggie?



Ex. 今日は、あんまり元気じゃないね。どうしたの？
= Kyou wa, anmari genki janai ne. Doushitano?
= You are not so cheerful today. What’s wrong?



Ex.お邪魔じゃないですか？
= Ojama janai desu ka?
= Am I interrupting?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

★To use じゃない(=janai) in a positive meaning.


When you see / hearじゃない ( = janai) in a sentence, you may automatically think it’s a negative sentence, but we often use it in affirmative sentences or tag questions to make a point, add remarks, express opinions, or show emotions such surprise, shock, joy, anger, etc.

🔸 How to form a positive sentence with じゃない ( = janai):

noun, pronoun + じゃない ( = janai ) ( +ですか ( = desuka))


*マギーじゃない (ですか)!
= Maggie janai ( desuka)
= Oh, there’s/that’s Maggie! / Hey, you are Maggie!


*野球じゃない (ですか)！
= Yakyuu janai (desuka)!
= Oh, it’s baseball!

verb plain form + じゃない ( = janai) ( +ですか ( = desuka))

*似合うじゃない (ですか)!
= niau janai(desuka)!
= It looks good on you!


*歌えるじゃない (ですか)！
= Utaeru janai (desuka)!

= You can sing! You sing very well!

na-adjective : delete な ( = na) and add じゃない ( = janai) ( + ですか ( = desuka))

* きれいじゃない (ですか)！
= Kirei janai (desuka))
= Someone/something is beautiful! /Oh that’s beautiful!


i-adjective plain form + じゃない ( = janai)( + ですか ( = desuka))

*かわいいじゃない (ですか)！
=Kawaii janai (desuka)!
= Cute, isn’t it? / Wow! You are cute!

📝 Note :　As I mentioned above, you can’t make a negative form of i-adjectives or verbs with じゃない ( = janai) but if they are not used in a negative sentence, you can make a positive form of i-adjectives or verbs with じゃない ( = janai) or ではない ( = dewa nai ). So while it looks to be grammatically negative, it’s actually conversationally positive.


🔹Finishing the sentence with じゃない ( = janai) is for female speech.

1) When you give someone a compliment. :

Ex. その服、いいではないですか。
= Sono fuku, iidewa nai desuka.
= (Wow!) I like your clothes. (Nice clothes!!)

↓

Ex. その服、いいじゃないですか。(neutral = both men and women can use it.)
= Sono fuku, ii janai desu ka.

Note: See it doesn’t mean, “Your clothes are not nice.”

If you want to say that, you have to say

その服、よくないじゃない。(female speech)

= Sono fuku, yokunai janai.

↓(more casual)

その服、いいじゃない。(female speech)
= Sono fuku, ii janai.



📝 Note:

じゃないですか ( = janaidesuka) is neutral and both men and women can use it. But finishing the sentence with じゃない ( = janai) may give a feminine impression. And if you want to make yourself sound more “macho,” just add か（ = ka).

その服、いいじゃないか。(male speech)

= Sono fuku, ii janai ka.

It sounds a bit rough so be careful who you use with.

Ex. すごいじゃないですか！
= Sugoi janai desuka!
= Wow! That’s great, isn’t it?

Ex. 彼、かっこいいじゃない！(female speech)
= Kare, kakkoii janai!
= Oh, he’s cute!


Ex. マギーっていつもお洒落しているじゃない？ (female speech)
= Maggie tte itsumo oshare shiteiru janai?
= You always dress up, don’t you, Maggie

2) When you complain, accuse someone.

Ex. ひどいじゃないか！(male speech)
= Hidoi janai ka!
= What you did (said) was horrible!


Ex. だから、言ったじゃない！（female speech)
= Dakara, itta janai!
= I told you so!


Ex. みんな、お前のせいじゃないか！( male speech, rough)
= Minna, omae no sei janai ka!
= It’s all your fault, isn’t it?


Ex. お母さんだっていつもテレビを夜遅くまでみてるじゃない! (female speech or children )
= Okaasan datte itsumo terebi wo yoru osoku made miteru janai.
= You always watch TV late at night, too, Mom!

3) When you suggest your idea asking for the listener’s agreement or make your point.


Ex. このクラスで一番かわいいのは私じゃない？（female speech)
= Kono kurasu de ichiban kawaii no wa watashi janai?
= Aren’t I the cutest girl in this class?

Ex.お金がある人が行けばいいじゃないですか。
= Okane ga aru hito ga ikeba ii janai desuka.

= Only people who have money should go! (Not a poor person like me!)

Ex. 一緒にがんばろうじゃないか！(male speech)
= Issho ni ganbarou janai ka!
= Why don’t we do our best together?


* * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
⭐️ 〜んじゃない= ~ n janai

🔸 〜んじゃない ( = n janai) is a casual form of のではない（ ＝ no dewa nai).
How to form :★verb (plain form) + のではない(~ no dewa nai)

verb (plain form ) + んじゃない(=njanai)

*する= suru = to do

するのではない(=suru no dewa nai) not doing

するんじゃない(=surun janai)

■ past (perfect) tense :

*した (= shita) did, have done

したんじゃない(=shitan janai)

*食べる= taberu = to eat

食べるのではない ( = taberu no dewa nai) not eating

食べるんじゃない ( = taberun janai)

■ past (perfect) tense :

*食べた (=tabeta) ate, have eaten

食べたんじゃない ( = tabetan janai)

★i-adjective (plain form ) + のではない ( = no de wa nai)

(casual contraction ) んじゃない ( = njanai)

*おかしい ( = okashii ) funny, strange

おかしいのではない ( = okashii no dewa nai) not strange, not funny

おかしいんじゃない ( = okashiin janai)

■ past tense

*おかしかった ( = okashikatta) was/ were strange, funny

おかしかったんじゃない ( = okashikattan janai)

★na-adjective (plain form ) ＋なのではない ( = nano dewa nai)

na-adjective (plain form) + なんじゃない ( = nan janai)

*きれい ( = kirei) beautiful

きれいなのではない ( = kirei nano de wa nai) not beautiful, pretty, clean

きれいなんじゃない ( = kireinan janai) = it is not beautiful, pretty, clean

■past tense

*きれいだった ( = kireidatta) = was/were beautiful

きれいだったんじゃない ( = kireidattan janai) was/were not beautiful

Note : You may wonder what is the difference between きれいではない (= kirei dewa nai ) and きれいなのではない ( = kirei nano dewa nai) They both means “not beautiful” but きれいなのではない ( = kirei nano de wa nai) has more explanatory tone.

We can say the same thing with きれいじゃない ( = kireijanai) and きれいなんじゃない ( = kireinan janai)

きれいなんじゃない ( = kireinan janai) has more explanatory tone and sounds a bit stronger than きれいじゃない ( = kirei janai)

★noun / pronouns + なんじゃない ( = nanjanai)

*犬= inu = a dog

犬なのではない = Inu nano dewa nai = not a dog

犬なんじゃない = inu nanjanai

■ past tense :

*犬だった = inu datta = was/were a dog(s)

犬だったんじゃない= inu dattan janai = was/were not a dog(s)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Now we see how/when to use んじゃない ( = njanai)

★To use んじゃない(=njanai) in a negative sentence.

1) When you describe some situation in an explanatory tone / make your point/ emphasize the fact or your opinion.


＊マギー先生はこの学校で教えているのではない。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshite iru no dewa nai.
= Maggie Sensei is not teaching at this school.

↓
＊マギー先生はこの学校で教えているのじゃない。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshite iru no janai.

↓(more casual)

＊マギー先生はこの学校で教えているんじゃない。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshite irun janai.


＊マギー先生はこの学校で教えているのではありません。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshite iru no dewa arimasen.
= Maggie Sensei is not teaching at this school.
↓

＊マギー先生はこの学校で教えているんじゃありません。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshite irun ja arimasen.
Note: If you just describe some state/situation, you don’t use this form. You simply say

マギー先生はこの学校で教えていません。
= Maggie Sensei wa kono gakkou de oshiete imasen.

You only use んじゃない ( = n ja nai) / のではありません ( = node wa arimasen) form when you emphasize the point or negate what someone just said or asked you.


Ex. 誰かがやってくれるんじゃない。君自身がそれをやるんだ。
= Darekaga yatte kurerunjanai. Kimijishin ga sore wo yarunda.
= Nobody does it for you. You have to do it yourself.


Ex. あなたのこと嫌いなんじゃない。
= Anata no koto kirainan janai.
= I don’t hate you!

Ex. 出来ないんじゃない。やらないだけだ。
= Dekinain janai. Yaranai dakeda.
= It doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I just don’t do it. That’s all.


2) When you give someone an order or suggestion.

Ex. そうやるんじゃないよ、こうだよ！
= Souyarun janaiyo. Kou dayo!
= Don’t do it that way. Do it this way!


Ex. 風邪ひくからこんなところで寝るんじゃないよ！(tough speech)
= Kaze hikukara konna tokoro de nerun janai yo.
= Don’t sleep here or you will catch a cold.

Ex. 口答えをするんじゃない！(male speech, rough)
= Kuchigotae wo surun janai!
= Don’t talk back!

Ex. 負けるんじゃない！(tough speech)
= Makerun janai!
= Hang in there!


★ To use んじゃない(=njanai) in an affirmative sentence.

1) When you talk about probability. Probably…/When you express your opinion, I think…/ When you make your point

Ex. 今日、雨が降るんじゃないかと思ったけれども降らなかった。
= Kyou, amega furun janai ka to omotta keredomo furanakatta.
= I thought it might rain today, but it didn’t rain.


Ex. マギーはもう寝たんじゃない？
= Maggie wa mou netan janai?
= Maggie probably went to bed already. / I think Maggie is already sleeping.

Ex. もうすぐ春がくるんじゃないかな。
= Mousugu haru ga kurun janai kana.
= I think spring is coming soon.

Ex. マギーは彼のこと好きなんじゃないかな。
= Maggie wa kare no koto sukinan janai kana.
= I think Maggie probably likes him.

Ex. 先生の言っていることは厳し過ぎるんじゃないかと思う。
= Sensei no itte iru koto wa kibishisugirun janai kato omou.
= I think what the teacher is saying is too strict.

Ex. あの店はつぶれたんじゃないかと誰かが言っていたよ。
= Ano mise wa tsuburetan janai kato darekaga itte itayo.
= Someone told me that the restaurant might be out of business.

Ex. マギー先生のサイトは１年ももたないんじゃないかと思っていた。
= Maggie sensei no saito wa ichinen mo motanain janai kato omotte ita.
= I thought Maggie Sensei’s site wouldn’t last even a year.

Ex. 準備は明日やったらいいんじゃないですか？
= Junbi wa ashita yattara iin janai desuka?

= I think we (or you) should do the preparation tomorrow.

Why don’t we (or you) do the preparation tomorrow?

Ex. 彼の言っていることは違うんじゃないかなと思うようになった。

= Kare no itte iru koto wa chigaun janai kana to omou you ni natta.

= I started to think that what he was saying was wrong.

3) When you question something.

Ex. この文、おかしいんじゃない？
= Kono bun, okashiin janai?

= Isn’t this sentence strange? (I think this sentence is strange. What do you think?)

Ex. そんなことを言うなんてどうかしているんじゃない？
= Sonna koto wo iu nante doukashiteirun janai?

= What is wrong with you saying such a thing? (I think there is something wrong with you.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
🔹じゃない ( = iijanai) VS んじゃない ( = iinjanai)

I know the difference is just one letter ん ( = n), but it gives a difference.
While じゃない ( = janai) is usually used when you simply express an opinion showing emotion, んじゃない ( =njanai) is more like a tag question. You are expressing your opinion and at the same time you are asking the listener’s opinion or agreement. So it is used in a question form.

There is a more subtle difference. Let’s compare the following sentences to see the difference.

a) その髪型いいじゃない。 (female speech/ casual)
= Sono kamigata ii janai.
= I like your hairdo! / Oh, nice hairdo!!


b) その髪型いいんじゃない？ (casual)
= Sono kamigata iin janai?
= Your hairdo is not bad.


*Note : 
They both can be used when you compliment others. 
But a) sounds more enthusiastic.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
c) 彼、若いじゃない。 (female speech)

= Kare, wakai janai.

= Wow, he is young. (I’m surprised.)


d) 彼、若いんじゃない？
= Kare wakain janai?
= He is young, isn’t he?

Note : If you really think he is young, use c). If you question whether or not he is young and want to confirm, use d)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
e) これおいしいじゃないですか。
= Kore oishii janai desuka.
= Wow, this is delicious. (I’m surprised.)


f) これおいしいんじゃない？(less formal than e)
= Kore oishiin janai?
= Isn’t this delicious?

Note : The same as a) and b). e) sounds more enthusiastic. But actually many young people tend to use the f) form when they express their opinion to avoid offering a straight reaction.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
g) そんなことどうでもいいじゃないか。(male speech, rough.)

= Sonna koto doudemo ii janai ka.
= Who cares about such a thing.
h) そんなことどうでもいいんじゃない？

= Sonna koto doudemo iin janai?
= Who cares about such a thing, right?

Note : 
g) shows more emotion. 
 h) gives the impression that you are seeing things more objectively.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
i) よかったじゃない。(female speech)
= Yokatta janai.

= Oh that’s great! / I’m happy for you!

j) よかったんじゃない？
= Yokattan janai?
= I think it turned out great. Don’t you think so?, It’s great, isn’t it?

Note : When you compare these two,

 i) sounds more sincere.
 j) is more objective and it sounds a bit distant.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Another confusing thing is negative tag questions.
They are tricky because they look like double negative sentences but they’re not.

Ex. Exileの新曲、悪くないんじゃない？(female speech)
= Ekuzairu no shinkyoku, waruku nain janai?
= Exile’s new song is not bad, huh?

Ex. 本当はマギーは日本語を話せないんじゃないんですか？
= Hontou wa Maggie wa nihongo ga hanasenain janain desu ka?
= Maybe Maggie can’t really speak Japanese, can she?

Ex. そんなことは言わなくてもいいんじゃないの？
= Sonna koto wa iwanakute mo iin janai no?
= You don’t need to say such a thing, do you?

Ex. あいつ、自分に何が起きているかわからないんじゃないのか？(male speech, rough)
= Aitsu jibun ni nani ga okite iru ka wakaranain janai no ka?
= Maybe he doesn’t understand what is happening to him, does he?

Ex. 今日、加藤さんは来ないんじゃないでしょうか？
= Kyou, Kato san wa konain janai deshouka?
= I think Kato-san is not coming today. Don’t you think so?

Ex. マギーは今、家にいないんじゃない？
= Maggie wa ima, ie ni inain janai?
= I think Maggie is not home. Don’t you think so?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
OK, you can relax from here. ☺️

Here are some extra notes on じゃない ( = janai)

🔹 The variation of じゃない ( = janai)

じゃねえ ( = janee)
じゃねえ ( = janee) is a rough male suffix.

●じゃない ( = anai) →じゃねえ ( = janee)　（we also spell it as じゃねー or じゃね〜）
●んじゃない ( = njanai) →んじゃねえ ( = njanee)

Ex. そうじゃないよ！
= Sou dewa nai
= That is not right. That is not what I said. That is not how you do it.

↓

Ex. そうじゃねえよ!　(male/ rough)
= Soujanee yo.


Ex. あんなやつ好きじゃないよ。
= Annna yatsu suki janaiyo

= I don’t like that chick.


あんなやつ好きじゃねえよ。(rough)

= Anna yatsu sukija neeneyo.

Ex. なかなかやるじゃないか。(male)
= Nakanaka yaru janai ka.

= You do pretty good. (You do better than I had expected./I’m impressed!)

なかなかやるじゃねえか。(male, rough)
= Nakanaka yarujaneeka.

Ex. あいつも行きたかったんじゃないか？(male, rough)
= Aitsu mo ikitakattanjanaika?
= He wanted to go, too, didn’t he?

あいつも行きたかったんじゃねえのか？(male, more rough)
= Aitsumo ikitakattanja nee no ka?

Ex. そんなんじゃねえよ。
= Sonnanja neeyo.

= That’s not right. (What you said is wrong.) denying what the other has just said.

⭐️じゃん ( = jan)
It’s a casual abbreviation of じゃない ( = janai) and it is used to emphasize your speech.
It is considered to be a dialect in Kanto area but it is pretty common among other areas.
It’s mainly used among young people.

It is a cliche that Kansai comedians mimic Tokyo area people using this casual suffix.

Ex. いいじゃない。(casual)
= Ii janai.


= I think it’s good! / Nice! / Great! / Sounds good! / Looks good!/ Don’t worry!
↓

いいじゃん (really casual)
= iijan

Ex. 彼、イケてるじゃない！(female speech)
= Kare, iketerujanai!
= He is cool, isn’t he?

(* イケてる= Iketeru = slang = cool, cute, great)

↓
Ex. 彼、イケてるじゃん！
= Kare iketerujan!


Ex. そう言ったのはマギーじゃん！
= Souitta no wa Maggie jan!
= You are the one who said that, Maggie!

Ex. そんなこと知ってるじゃん！
= Sonna koto shitterujan!
=I already know that!


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