Japanese grammar

What does ～やしない mean? Japanese grammar N1

～やしない means does not… at all; by no means… (strong emphatic negative, casual).

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N1
Structure	Vます形 + やしない
Romaji	yashinai
Meaning	does not… at all; by no means… (strong emphatic negative, casual)

Forming it

Verb (can do)	でき + やしない
Verb (understand)	分かり + やしない

How to use it

A STRONG negation carrying emotion (annoyance/contempt). Very colloquial, a contracted form of 「～はしない」.

「～やしない」 = a strong negation with emotion: "there's no way...", "not at all...". Contracted from 「～はしない」.
Very COLLOQUIAL, usually carrying an annoyed or dissatisfied tone.
Attaches to the MASU-STEM; not used in formal writing.

Examples

こんな難(むずか)しい話(はなし)、子供(こども)に分(わ)かりやしない。
A kid couldn’t possibly understand something this difficult.
一人(ひとり)でそんなにたくさんの仕事(しごと)、できやしないよ。
There’s no way I can do that much work alone.

Keep in mind

Attaches to the masu-stem.
Colloquial, carries an annoyed tone.

Common mistakes

Wrong私(わたし)が彼(かれ)を助(たす)けやしない。

There's no way I can help him.

Correct私(わたし)に彼(かれ)を助(たす)けられやしない。

「やしない」 emphasizes "cannot/not at all" and usually pairs with a potential form; a plain volitional sentence uses 「助けない」.
Wrong会議(かいぎ)でそんなことは言(い)いやしません。

I wouldn't say such a thing in a meeting.

Correct会議(かいぎ)でそんなことは言(い)いません。

「やしない」 is very colloquial and is not used in formal situations.

Exam tips

「やしない」 = a strong colloquial negation (contraction of 「はしない」); attaches to the masu-stem.

Related patterns

All N1 grammar →