ものか
Definitely not, Absolutely not, Impossible, Do you really think~?
Structure
［い］Adjective + もの(1) + か
［な］Adjective + な + もの(1) + か
Noun + な + もの(1) + か
(1) もん
Explanation
ものか is a grammatical phrase used to express a strong sense of denial or disbelief. The speaker uses it to emphatically state that something is untrue or will never occur. It combines the noun もの ('thing') with the adverbial particle か, which here introduces a rhetorical question or a sense of doubt. It can be translated as 'no way (A)', 'as if (A)', or 'I would never (A)'. In essence, ものか presents a forceful, rhetorical question implying that the opposite of the preceding statement is true.
This expression can be attached to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives. For な-adjectives and nouns, な must be placed before ものか.
- 僕は悪くないのに、どうして謝らなきゃいけないんだ。謝るものか！I'm not the one at fault, so why should I have to apologize? Like I'm ever going to say sorry!
- あんな退屈な映画、面白いもんか。A boring movie like that? There's no way it was interesting.
- ずっと走ってきたんだ。平気なものか。I've been running this whole time. Do you honestly think I'm okay?
- あんなのは本当の愛なものか！Something like that is absolutely not true love!
Common variations of this grammar point include the more colloquial もんか, and the more polite もんですか and ものですか. The polite forms are often, though not exclusively, used by female speakers.
Furthermore, when ものか follows the past-tense potential form of a verb (e.g., 食べられた), it strongly expresses that something was impossible to do, often because it was unpleasant or unreasonable.
- ３分でこの山の頂上まで登れたもんか。As if anyone could climb to the top of this mountain in 3 minutes.
- あんなにうるさい場所で、寝られたものか。In a place that noisy? There's no way I could have slept.
Caution
ものか can appear in various contexts, but a reliable way to understand its core meaning is to think of it as 'as if (A)'. This translation captures the speaker's sense of disbelief or indignation toward a particular condition, which could relate to quantity, likelihood, or a consequence of an action.
Examples
あんな失礼な態度をされて、こっちから謝るものか。
After being treated so rudely, there is no way I'm going to be the one to apologize.
彼が正直なものか。嘘ばかりついている。
Him, honest? No way. He does nothing but lie.
こんな退屈な映画、二度と見るものか。
This movie is so boring, I will absolutely not watch it a second time.
一度裏切った人のことなんか、もう信じられるものか。
How could I possibly trust someone who has already betrayed me once?
あのレストランのサービスがいいものか。店員はいつも無愛想だよ。
The service at that restaurant, good? No way. The staff is always unfriendly.
あいつに金を貸してやるものか。前に貸した分もまだ返してもらっていないんだから。
I absolutely will not lend that guy money. He still hasn't even paid me back from last time.
たった一日の練習でピアノが弾けるようになるものか。
There is no way you can learn to play the piano in just one day of practice.
負けるもんか！次は絶対に勝つ！
As if I'd lose! Next time, I will definitely win!
僕がそんな卑怯なことをするものか。
I would never do something so cowardly.
この吹雪の中、バスが時間どおりに来るものか。
In this blizzard, there is no way the bus will come on time.
母：「またゲーム？少しは勉強したらどうなの？」
息子：「うるさいなあ。今更勉強したって、何も変わるもんか！」
Mother: 'Playing games again? Why don't you study a little?'
Son: 'Leave me alone. Studying now won't change a thing!'
木村：「山田さんのパーティー、行くんでしょ？」
鈴木：「彼に招待されてないのに、行けるものか！」
Kimura: 'You're going to Yamada-san's party, right?'
Suzuki: 'I wasn't invited by him, so how could I possibly go!'