〜ものか / 〜もんか
mono ka / mon ka
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
absolutely not, as if I would … (strong emotional denial)
〜ものか is a rhetorical question that means an emphatic "no way": 二度と行くものか (as if I would ever go again). It expresses the speaker's determination or rejection with strong feeling. もんか is the casual spoken form; ものですか is the polite form used mostly by women in older-style speech.
Casual, emotional speech; also in dramatic writing. It sounds combative or defiant, so use it with care. In neutral speech use 絶対に〜ない.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Verb (dictionary form) + ものか / もんかい-adjective + ものか (悔しくなんかあるものか)な-adjective + な + ものかNoun + な + ものか (or である + ものか)Polite: 〜ものですか / 〜もんですか
Visual diagram
- Step 1二度と行かないI won't go again (plain)
- Step 2絶対に二度と行かないI will absolutely never go again
- Step 3二度と行くものかas if I would ever go again! (defiant rhetorical denial)
Natural examples
あんな店、二度と行くものか。
あんなみせ、にどといくものか。
As if I would ever go to that restaurant again!
Defiant refusal to return.
彼の言うことなんか信じるもんか。
かれのいうことなんかしんじるもんか。
No way I would believe what he says.
もんか: casual; rejecting what someone says.
こんなに難しい問題、解けるものですか。
こんなにむずかしいもんだい、とけるものですか。
There is no way I can solve such a difficult problem.
ものですか: polite form; strong denial of ability.
こんなチャンスを逃すものか。
こんなチャンスをのがすものか。
There is no way I'll let this chance slip.
Determination: as if I would miss it.
彼が私の気持ちなど分かるものか。
かれがわたしのきもちなどわかるものか。
As if he could understand my feelings.
など strengthens the dismissive tone.
Similar grammar and the difference
Strong logical denial ('there's no way that'); ものか is more emotional and often about the speaker's own will. Compare side by side
Quiet, literary 'will not'; ものか is loud and defiant. Compare side by side
〜はずがない
Denial based on reasoning.
Different pattern: norms or nostalgia. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 行かないものか。
- ✓
- 行くものか。
- Why
- ものか already denies; attach it to the affirmative form.
- ✗
- 報告書：この計画は成功するものか。
- ✓
- 報告書：この計画が成功するとは考えにくい。
- Why
- Too emotional for a report.
- ✗
- あの人は親切なものか。(neutral tone intended)
- ✓
- あの人は親切ではない。
- Why
- ものか always sounds defiant or scornful; do not use it for a plain negative.
Intensifiers: 絶対に, 二度と, 誰が, など / なんか. 誰が〜ものか = who would ever…? (nobody). In fiction, もんか marks strong-willed or angry characters.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- If the sentence expresses defiant refusal (二度と / 絶対に), ものか / もんか is the answer.
- It attaches to the affirmative form; a negative before ものか is a common wrong option.
- Distinguish from ものだ (norm) and ものの (although) by the final か.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ものか / 〜もんか mean?
absolutely not, as if I would … (strong emotional denial). 〜ものか is a rhetorical question that means an emphatic "no way": 二度と行くものか (as if I would ever go again). It expresses the speaker's determination or rejection with strong feeling. もんか is the casual spoken form; ものですか is the polite form used mostly by women in older-style speech.
How do you form 〜ものか / 〜もんか?
Verb (dictionary form) + ものか / もんか / い-adjective + ものか (悔しくなんかあるものか) / な-adjective + な + ものか / Noun + な + ものか (or である + ものか) / Polite: 〜ものですか / 〜もんですか. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ものか / 〜もんか used?
Casual, emotional speech; also in dramatic writing. It sounds combative or defiant, so use it with care. In neutral speech use 絶対に〜ない.
What is the difference between 〜ものか / 〜もんか and 〜わけがない?
Strong logical denial ('there's no way that'); ものか is more emotional and often about the speaker's own will.
What is the difference between 〜ものか / 〜もんか and 〜まい?
Quiet, literary 'will not'; ものか is loud and defiant.
What is a common mistake with 〜ものか / 〜もんか?
Wrong: 行かないものか。 Right: 行くものか。 ものか already denies; attach it to the affirmative form.
Quick check
あんなひどい店、二度と（ ）。