🚫🪜

How to Say ‘There are no steps.’ in Japanese

段差はありません。

dansa wa ari mase n

[DAHN-sah wah ah-ree mah-seh n]

💬 Usage Tip: は is said (wa) here. In 'there isn't any' sentences it usually replaces が, as in 席はありません "there are no seats".

Phrase Breakdown

段差は

dansa wa

as for steps

段差 (dansa) means a step or a change in floor level. The particle は is pronounced 'wa'.

Example

段差は小さいです。

The step is small.

Words in this phrase

段差

dansa

[DAHN-sah]

step; difference in level

An uneven spot or step between floor levels.

Example

段差に気をつけてください。

Please watch your step.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

ありません。

ari mase n

there are none

This is the polite negative of ある (to exist). Pronounce it 'a-ri-ma-sen'.

Example

時間がありません。

There's no time.

Words in this phrase

あり

ari

[ah-ree]

(stem) exist; have (polite negative form base).

Stem of ある (“to exist/to have”). With ません it becomes ありません (“there isn’t / I don’t have”). Common at pharmacies/clinics when saying you don’t have a symptom.

Example

吐き気はありません。

I don’t have nausea.

ませ

mase

[mah-seh]

polite negative (part of ません)

「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

(negative ending)

Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.

Example

今日は時間がありません。

I don't have time today.

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