“〜mono ka / mon ka”: Absolutely Not! — Emphatic Refusal & Determination [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“Makeru mono ka!” “As if I’d believe it!” — expressing strong refusal or fighting spirit
「負けるものか！」 — 「ものか」, an emphatic “no way, I'll never ~!”
「負けるものか！」 (there's no way I'll lose!) — 「(verb・adjective plain form) ＋ ものか」 (colloquially 「もんか」) means “I'll never ~! As if I would ~!” — an emphatic negation or refusal, with an unyielding, indignant emotion. It's actually a rhetorical question: “as if that were so?” = “absolutely not/won't.” This guide covers 「ものか」's attachment, that “emotion-packed never,” and separates it from 「ものだ」 (one syllable apart, worlds apart).
Core: emphatic negation via a rhetorical question (I'll never ~!)
「ものか」 is an emphatic negation in rhetorical-question form — “as if ~?” = “absolutely not”:
- Strong refusal/resolve: もう二度と行くものか (no way I'll go again!), 負けるものか (I'll never lose!).
- Strongly denying what the other says: そんなこと、あるものか (no way that's true!).
Feel: intensely emotional (unyielding, indignant, resolute), a subjective, colloquial strong negation. Colloquial 「もんか」 is fiercer.
How to Connect
| Word class | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb dictionary ＋ ものか | I'll never do | 行くものか |
| i-adjective ＋ ものか | as if it's ~! | 怖いものか |
| na-adj 〜な ＋ ものか | as if it's ~! | 好きなもんか |
| colloquial | もんか | 負けるもんか |
例句（看情境體會語氣）
- もう一度あんな思いをするものか。(No way I'll go through that again!) — refusal
- あんな失礼な店、二度と行くものか。(That rude place — I'll never go again!) — resolute refusal
- 負けるものか！最後まで頑張る。(I'll never lose! I'll fight to the end.) — unyielding
- 彼の言うことなんか、信じるもんか。(As if I'd believe what he says!) — strong denial
- こんなことで諦めるもんか。(No way I'll give up over something like this!) — resolve
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① 「ものか」 = “I'll never ~,” not “that's how it is” (don't confuse with ものだ). 〜ものか = I'll never ~! (emphatic negation, rhetorical) (行くものか = as if I'd go!); 〜ものだ = that's how it is (truth) (行くものだ = one is meant to go). One 「か」 apart, opposite meanings! ものか is negation/refusal, ものだ is a truth. The most-reversed point.
② It's “rhetorical question = emphatic negation.” 「ものか」 literally is 「もの (thing) ＋ か (question)」, a rhetorical question — “as if that were so?” = “absolutely not.” So although there's no 「ない」, it's a strong negation (負けるものか = as if I'd lose = I'll never lose). Learners easily misread it as affirmative.
③ Emotional, colloquial — use with care formally. ものか／もんか carry intense unyielding, indignant emotion, very colloquial (もんか is fiercer). Good for resolve, defiance, retort, but don't use toward seniors or in formal settings (too blunt, rude). For a formal “never,” use 「決して〜ない」.
🔄 Compare: ものか／ものだ／ものではない
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ものか | I'll never ~! (rhetorical strong negation) | 負けるものか |
| 〜ものだ | that's how it is (truth) | 遊ぶものだ |
| 〜もの（だ）ではない | shouldn't ~ (admonition) | 泣くものではない （crying isn't the done thing） |
💡 The key point in use
「ものか（もんか）」 is an emotion-packed “I'll never ~!” — for defiance, spite, or retort (負けるものか = I'll never lose!, 二度と行くものか = no way I'll go again!, 信じるもんか = as if I'd believe it!). It's an emphatic negation in rhetorical-question form: “as if that were so?” = “absolutely not/won't,” so although there's no 「ない」, it's a strong negation. The easiest error is reversing it with 「ものだ」 — ものか = never (negation/refusal); ものだ = that's how it is (truth), one 「か」 apart, opposite! Colloquial 「もんか」 is fiercer. It's emotional and very colloquial, good for resolve and defiance, but don't use toward seniors or in formal settings (too blunt). To say a fierce “no way, never,” ものか has punch.
❓ Common questions
Q: How do I tell 「ものか」 from 「ものだ」? (one syllable apart)
One 「か」 apart, opposite meanings! 「〜ものか」 = I'll never ~! As if ~! (emphatic negation/refusal, emotional): あんな店、二度と行くものか (that place — I'll never go again! — strong refusal), 負けるものか (I'll never lose!). It's rhetorical (“as if ~?” = “absolutely not”). 「〜ものだ」 = that's how it is, how ~ it is! (truth, deep feeling): 人は誰でも失敗するものだ (everyone fails, by nature — a truth). So: 「ものか」 is an emotional “never” (negation); 「ものだ」 is “that's how it is” (truth) — one negates/refuses, the other states a truth, worlds apart over one 「か」. See 「ものか」 and it's always an emphatic “I'll never ~!”
Q: 「ものか」 has no 「ない」 — why is it negative?
Because 「ものか」 is a rhetorical question — literally 「もの (this thing) ＋ か (?)」, using question form to express strong negation. 「負けるものか」 literally is “would I lose? (as if!)” = “I'll absolutely not lose”; 「行くものか」 = “would I go? (no way)” = “I'll absolutely not go.” This “strong negation via a rhetorical question” exists in English too (“as if I'd be scared of you” = “I'm not scared”). So although 「ものか」 has no 「ない」, it's a categorical negation (even stronger and more emotional than 「ない」). Colloquial 「もんか」 is fiercer. Remember: ものか = an emphatic “I'll never ~!” in rhetorical-question form.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「あんな失礼な店、二度と行く___。」(I'll never go to that rude shop again)
(A) ものか (B) ものだ (C) ことか (D) はずだ
Q2. What does 「ものか」 express?
(A) Strong refusal / determination (no way!) (B) Plain affirmation (C) A polite request (D) Conjecture
Q3. What does 「負けるものか！」 mean?
(A) I will never lose! (strong resolve)
(B) I'll probably lose
(C) It's fine to lose
(D) I want to lose
Q4. What is the casual spoken form?
(A) もんか
(B) ものだ
(C) ものの
(D) ものを
Q5. Which connection is correct?
(A) 平気なものか。 (B) 平気ものか。
(C) 平気だものか。 (D) 平気でものか。
Answer Key
1. (A) ものか ── strong denial “I'll never go.”
2. (A) ── emotional refusal / defiance.
3. (A) ── “I will never lose” (resolve).
4. (A) もんか ── the casual contracted form.
5. (A) ── な-adjective takes 「な＋ものか」.