How to Say ‘There isn’t / there are none’ in Japanese
ありません
ari mase n
[ah-ree mah-seh n]
💬 Usage Tip: [ありません] is the polite negative of [ある]. Very common in clinics: [異常はありません] (“No abnormalities”).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese medical staff often use polite forms consistently. You can mirror that politeness for smooth communication.
Phrase Breakdown
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
to exist (inanimate) (stem)
From ある (to exist). In ありません it becomes the polite negative: “there isn’t / we don’t have.”
大きな問題はありません。
There is no major problem.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
(part of) polite negative ending
Part of ありません (polite negative of あります). Used in formal settings like hospitals.
心配しなくて大丈夫です。問題はありません。
You don’t need to worry. There is no problem.
ん
n
[n]
(part of) polite negative ending
Completes ません in ありません. Together, ません means “not” in polite form.
大きな問題はありません。
There is no major problem.
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