How to Say ‘I've never had it.’ in Japanese
飲んだことないです。
non da koto nai desu
[NOHN dah koto nai dess]
💬 Usage Tip: Past form + ことない means "have never done". Also 行ったことないです "I've never been"; the careful written version adds が: 飲んだことがないです.
Phrase Breakdown
飲ん
non
[NOHN]
drink
Form of 飲む used before the te-ending で.
水を飲んでください。
Please drink water.
だ
da
[dah]
past tense ending (after n-sound)
Past marker ta becomes da after verbs like nomu; with koto ga nai it means 'have never done'.
日本酒を飲んだことがあります。
I have drunk sake before.
こと
koto
[koto]
thing
Refers to an object or matter.
面白いことがあった。
Something interesting happened.
ない
nai
[nai]
not
Indicates negation or absence.
問題はない。
There is no problem.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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