What is the difference between あるまい and　ありません？


From what I understand, they both mean "is not". But from what I've been able
to gather from the few times I've heard it, it seems that あるまい may not be as
strong or definitive as ありません. Am I on the right track here? Also, can まい be
used with any verb ex: 飲むまい or just with ある?




  * `ません` expresses negation in polite form.
  * `まい` expresses a guess or intentional future, both in negation. So its entailment is weaker than `ません`, but implies willingness. A close counterpart in English is `shall not` as opposed to `will not`. `まい` can be used with other verbs as well.

> もう酒は飲みません  
>  'I will not drink liquor any more.' (polite)
>
> もう酒は飲むまい  
>  'I shall not drink liquor any more.' (guess)  
>  'I shall not drink liquor any more.' (declaration)




  * `ません` expresses negation in polite form.
  * `まい` expresses a guess or intentional future, both in negation. So its entailment is weaker than `ません`, but implies willingness. A close counterpart in English is `shall not` as opposed to `will not`. `まい` can be used with other verbs as well.

> もう酒は飲みません  
>  'I will not drink liquor any more.' (polite)
>
> もう酒は飲むまい  
>  'I shall not drink liquor any more.' (guess)  
>  'I shall not drink liquor any more.' (declaration)

