まさか | Grammar

Structure

まさか + [sentence (plain)] + とは思わなかったまさか + [sentence (plain)] + はずがない / わけがないまさか + [sentence] + ないだろうまさかの + [noun]

Description

まさか says something is beyond belief: "no way", "surely not", "I never thought". It opens the sentence, and what follows is either a surprise that has already happened or one the speaker refuses to believe will.

きごう！きごう？

No way! He's become the company president?

。

I never thought I'd run into a friend in Japan.

。

Surely it won't snow.

まさか～とは思わなかった

For something that did happen, まさか pairs with とはおもわなかった思わなかった, "I never thought that…". The clause before とは is in the plain form.

。

I never thought it would be this hard.

。

I never dreamed he was the culprit.

"Surely not"

For something that hasn't happened, まさか comes with a negative guess: ないだろう, はずがない or わけがない. The speaker is sure it won't happen, and slightly afraid it might.

。

Surely he won't lose.

。

There's no way that could happen.

"Don't tell me…"

As a question, まさか voices a suspicion the speaker hopes is wrong.

、きごう？

Don't tell me you forgot?

、きごう？

Don't tell me you're still asleep?

まさかの

Before a noun, まさかの means "unexpected", and まさかのとき時 is "an emergency".

、。

Everyone was stunned by the unexpected result.

、。

I'm saving for a rainy day.

Examples

きごう！きごう？

No way! You really won the lottery?

。

I never dreamed he was the culprit.

。

I never expected to meet you in a place like this.

。

I never imagined I would fail the exam.

。

Surely it isn't going to rain tomorrow as well.

。

There's no way that store would close down.

、きごう？

Don't tell me you're still sleeping?

、。

Everyone was surprised by the unexpected result.

。

I never thought I would be the one chosen.

、。

I never expected it to rain, so I didn't bring an umbrella.

。

Surely they won't lose.

きごう？

You must be joking, right?

References

まさかBunpro