〜ない / 〜ません

verb negative

The non-past negative of verbs: "don't" or "won't". 〜ません is polite; 〜ない is plain.

Readings

How to form it

For the plain form, see the ない form. For the polite form, see 〜ません.
Like the positive, it covers habits and the future: 行(い)きません can mean "I don't go" or "I won't go".
For "haven't done yet", use ていない: まだ食(た)べていません (I haven't eaten yet).

plain

食(た)べる(to eat)食(た)べない

polite

食(た)べる(to eat)食(た)べません

plain

行(い)く(to go)行(い)かない

polite

行(い)く(to go)行(い)きません

肉(にく)は食(た)べません。

I don't eat meat.

今日(きょう)は行(い)かない。

I'm not going today. (plain)

〜ないです, as in 行(い)かないです, is a polite alternative that is common in conversation. ません sounds more formal.

Answering "have you eaten yet?" with 食(た)べません, which means you don't or won't eat. Say まだ食(た)べていません.