Meanings
verbnegativize (third-person singular simple present negativizes, present participle negativizing, simple past and past participle negativized)
present singular third person negativizes · participle present negativizing · participle past negativized · past negativized · alternative negativise
- ambitransitivegrammarTo make negative.
It is possible to negativize dame and say dame zya nai 'it isn't no-good', to deny dame' da; but you can not negativize ikenai, so that instead of *ikenaku nai you will say wa'ruku nai 'it isn't bad'.
2004, Samuel Elmo Martin, A reference grammar of Japanese, page 80
Origin
Translations
Greek αρνητικοποιώ
- αρνητικοποιώ (arnitikopoió)grammar: to make negative
Portuguese negativizar
- negativizargrammar: to make negative
Cite this entry
APA
negativize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negativize
MLA
“negativize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negativize. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “negativize,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negativize.
Source: negativize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.