GRAMMAR
〜ぬ
not (classical negative)
Explanation
NOTE
〜ぬ is a classical/literary negative form, equivalent to modern 〜ない.
知らぬが仏。
What you don't know can't hurt you. (lit. "not knowing is Buddha")
A famous proverb using the classical 〜ぬ form.
NOTE
It gives a literary, proverbial, or formal tone — common in idioms, sayings, and old texts.
NOTE
To form it, take the verb ない-stem and replace ない with ぬ (知らない → 知らぬ).
STRUCTURE
Vない
ぬ昨日、彼は何も言かぬまま帰った。
Kinou, kare wa nani mo ika-nu mama kaetta.
Yesterday, he went home without saying anything.
この景色は見かぬほど美しい。
Kono keshiki wa mika-nu hodo utsukushii.
This scenery is so beautiful that I cannot stop looking at it.
明日の予定は変かぬつもりです。
Ashita no yotei wa kaka-nu tsumori desu.
I do not intend to change tomorrow's plans.
言わぬが花。
Iwanu ga hana.
Some things are better left unsaid. (lit. "not saying is the flower")
思いがけぬ出来事が起こった。
Omoigakenu dekigoto ga okotta.
An unexpected event occurred.
彼は何も知らぬ顔をしている。
Kare wa nani mo shiranu kao wo shite iru.
He has a face that doesn't know anything (i.e. feigns innocence).
Practice exercises
1
彼の意見は聞か聞かぬ意見だと考えられる。
His opinion is thought to be an opinion that should not be heard.
Answer
聞かぬ
2
彼は躊躇うことなく、言わ言わぬことを言った。
Without hesitation, he said what should not be said.
Answer
言わぬ
3
世間を知ら知らぬ若者ではない。
He is not a young person who does not know the world.
Answer
知らぬ
4
彼の言動は誰にも知ら知らぬに相違ない。
His words and actions must not be known by anyone.
Answer
知らぬ
5
彼は誰も及ば及ばぬ才能の持ち主だ。
He is the owner of a talent that no one can match.
Answer
及ばぬ