彼は決して感情を表に出さぬポーカーフェイスだ。
かれ は けっして かんじょう を おもて に ださぬ ぽーかーふぇいす だ。
He’s got a poker face that never shows emotion.
So, check it. You know how in English we got different ways to say “ain’t” or “don’t”? Like, instead of saying “I do not know,” you might say “I don’t know,” or if you’re really from the block, you might say “I ain’t knowin’.” See the difference? They all mean the same thing, but they got a different flavor, a different vibe.
That’s exactly what 〜ぬ is. It’s the old school, gangster way of sayin’ 〜ない. It’s got that old-money, traditional, samurai-era feel to it. It’s not for everyday chitchat with your homies. You use it when you wanna sound serious, a little bit formal, or just straight-up old-school legit. It’s like wearin’ a tailored suit to a back-alley deal. You ain’t playin’ no games.
Here’s the 411 on how you hook this up.
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form (じしょけい) | 〜ぬ Form | English |
| Godan (う-verbs) | 書く (かく) | 書かぬ (かかぬ) | not write |
| 飲む (のむ) | 飲まぬ (のまぬ) | not drink | |
| 死ぬ (しぬ) | 死なぬ (しなぬ) | not die | |
| Ichidan (る-verbs) | 食べる (たべる) | 食べぬ (たべぬ) | not eat |
| 見る (みる) | 見ぬ (みぬ) | not see | |
| Irregular Verbs | する | せぬ | not do |
| 来る (くる) | 来ぬ (こぬ) | not come |
For all you hustlers out there, let me break it down. For your standard Godan verbs, you take that ‘u’ sound at the end and flip it to an ‘a’ sound, then you just slap ぬ right on it. Easy money. For Ichidan verbs, it’s even simpler. Just drop the る and add ぬ. Done deal. Now, for the irregulars, you got ‘suru’ which becomes ‘senu,’ and ‘kuru’ which flips to ‘konu.’ Memorize those two like you memorize the faces of your crew.
Think of 〜ぬ like a ’64 Impala. It’s not your average Toyota Camry. The Camry gets you from A to B, no fuss. That’s your 〜ない. It’s reliable, everyone uses it. But the Impala? That’s a classic. It’s got history, it’s got style, it’s got that heavy, unmistakable presence. When you pull up in that Impala, everybody knows you ain’t to be messed with. That’s what 〜ぬ does for your Japanese. It adds weight, respect, and a little bit of danger. It’s the classic ride of negation.
Aight, here’s some fresh vocabulary you’ll see in the trenches.
仲間を売る (なかま を うる)
English: To sell out your crew; to snitch.
“Nakama o uru” is when you turn your back on your own people, your day ones, for your own gain. It’s the ultimate betrayal, you feel me? Like a snake in the grass. You trade loyalty for cash, a lighter sentence, whatever. In the streets, that’s a cardinal sin. You a rat, a stool pigeon. You ain’t never comin’ back from that. It’s like sellin’ a piece of your soul, dig it?
誓う (ちかう)
English: To vow; to swear an oath.
“Chikau” is when you give your word, and I mean your bond. This ain’t no pinky promise. This is puttin’ it on everything you love, on your life, on the hood. When you swear an oath to your set, your family, you’re locked in for life. It’s that code of honor, that “omertà” they talk about in the gangster flicks. You break that vow, you pay the price. It’s about loyalty, respect, and keepin’ it 100.
要求 (ようきゅう)
English: Demand; request.
“Youkyuu” is when you ain’t askin’ nicely no more. This is a demand. You’re comin’ straight at ’em, lettin’ ’em know what needs to happen, no if, ands, or buts. It’s like when the big boss lays down the law, or when you’re in a standoff and you’re makin’ your terms known. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a “this is how it’s gonna be.” You best believe you better listen when a demand is made.
手出しする (てだし する)
English: To meddle; to lay a hand on.
“Tedashi suru” is when you stick your nose where it don’t belong, or worse, you put your hands on someone or their business. You see a situation goin’ down, and you decide to jump in. Sometimes it’s to help your boys, but sometimes you’re just askin’ for trouble. And if someone tells you “tedashi suru na,” that means “don’t you dare touch this” or “stay the hell out of it.” It’s a warning, you dig? Mess around and find out.
罠 (わな)
English: A trap; a snare.
A “wana” is a setup, plain and simple. It’s a trick, a hustle to get you caught up. Could be the feds layin’ a sting operation, or some rival crew settin’ you up for a fall. They bait you with something you want – money, power, respect – and then snap, the trap closes. You gotta be street smart, always watch your back, ’cause the world is full of traps. Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game, know what I’m sayin’? Stay woke.
Let’s get down to business. Here are some real sentences you might hear on the street.
あの男は組織の機密を決して漏らさぬ。
あの おとこ は そしき の きみつ を けっして もまさぬ。
That man will never leak the organization’s secrets.
我々は仲間を売るような真似はせぬ。
われわれ は なかま を うる よう な まね は せぬ。
We would never do something like betray our allies.
この金は誰にも渡さぬと誓ったはずだ。
この かね は だれ に も わたさぬ と ちかった はず だ。
You should have sworn not to hand this money over to anyone.
奴らの要求など、決して聞き入れぬ。
やつら の ようきゅう など、けっして ききいれぬ。
We will never agree to their demands.
俺が死なぬ限り、このシマは渡さぬ。
おれ が しなぬ かぎり、この しま は わたさぬ。
As long as I don’t die, I will not give up this territory.
彼に手出しする者は、俺が許さぬ。
かれ に てだし する もの は、おれ が ゆるさぬ。
I will not forgive anyone who lays a hand on him.
何も言わぬまま、奴は姿を消した。
なに も いわぬ まま、やつ は すがた を けした。
Without saying anything, he disappeared.
裏切り者は、二度と組織には戻れぬ。
うらぎりもの は、にどと そしき に は もどれぬ。
A traitor can never return to the organization.
敵の罠と知らぬはずはなかろう。
てき の わな と しらぬ はず は なかろう。
There’s no way he didn’t know it was an enemy trap.
決してこの場所を教えぬと約束した。
けっして この ばしょ を おしえぬ と やくそく した。
I promised never to tell anyone this location.
Alright, that’s the word. Study this, and you’ll be speaking with that real street cred. Now go get that paper.
Peace out.
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