nomimasen

Nomimasen is a Japanese verb form meaning "do not drink" or "will not drink." It is the polite present negative form of nomu, which means to drink. As a polite construction, nomimasen is used in formal speech, writing, and civil settings to state a refusal or personal choice regarding drinking.

In terms of grammar, nomimasen is formed from the masu-stem nomi- plus the negative ending -masen. The affirmative polite form is nomimasu; the past polite negative is nomimasen deshita. The verb nomu is a godan (u) verb, so its polite negative follows the standard pattern for godan verbs in the present tense. The plain negative form is noni or nominai in casual speech, but that is unrelated to the polite form nomimasen.

Common usage and nuance include expressing personal preference, health or dietary choices, or a formal refusal in social situations. It can refer to any beverage, including water or tea, and can appear with or without an object marker (o). For example:

- Watashi wa mizu o nomimasen. (I do not drink water.)

- Kono biiru wa nomimasen deshita. (I did not drink this beer.)

Nomimasen is also used in signs or notices to politely indicate a restriction or habit, such as not drinking alcohol in certain areas or situations.

Notes:

- Nomimasen differs from casual negative forms in tone; it retains a formal, respectful register.

- The corresponding casual form is nominai, and the past casual is nomanakatta.