How to Say ‘I can't speak it’ in Japanese
話せません
hanase mase n
[hah-NAH-seh mah-seh n]
💬 Usage Tip: The ません ending turns a verb negative and polite: 話せます "can speak" becomes 話せません "can't speak".
Phrase Breakdown
話せ
hanase
[hah-NAH-seh]
can speak
Potential form of 話す (to speak), meaning 'be able to speak'.
フランス語が話せます。
I can speak French.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite negative (part of ません)
「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.
はいていません。
I haven’t vomited.
ん
n
[n]
negative ending
The final sound completing the negative polite form.
一人は魚が食べられません。
One person cannot eat fish.
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