「〜ないではない／〜ないでもない」- Double Negative Structure

Explanation

In Japanese, 〜ないではない and 〜ないでもない are double negative expressions used to convey a nuanced or reserved negation. They are often used to acknowledge a certain degree of possibility or to express a hesitant attitude.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb ない-form + ないではない／ないでもない	Verb ない-form, い-Adjective ない-form, な-Adjective ない-form, Noun + ではない／でもない	Not entirely... / It's not that... / There is a possibility...

Basic Usage

This double negative structure can be understood as "not entirely..." or "it's not that...", and is used to express a reserved attitude, indicating that something is not completely denied or that there is some possibility.

Examples

• 彼かれの意見いけんも正ただしいという気きがしないでもない。
• Kare no iken mo tadashii to iu ki ga shinai demo nai.
• It's not that I don't feel his opinion might be correct.
  

• ここからは少すこし遠とおいが、頑張がんばれば歩あるいて行いけないでもない。
• Koko kara wa sukoshi tooi ga, ganbareba aruite ikenai demo nai.
• It's a bit far from here, but if you push yourself, it's not impossible to walk there.
  

Deep Dive

〜ないではない and 〜ないでもない have two main usages: reserved negation and reserved possibility.

Usage 1: Reserved Negation

• Connection: Verb ない-form + ないではない／ないでもない
• Meaning: Not entirely... / It's not that...
• Explanation: This usage expresses a reserved negation, often used when the speaker doesn't want to explicitly affirm or deny something. It is commonly used with words related to thoughts or feelings.

Examples:

• 彼かれを見みていると、過去かこの自分じぶんを見みている気きがしないでもない。
• Kare o mite iru to, kako no jibun o mite iru ki ga shinai demo nai.
• It's not that I don't feel like I'm looking at my past self when I see him.
  

• マナーまなの悪わるい人ひとに対たいして腹はらが立たつのは分わからないでもないが、手てを出だすのは良よくない。
• Mana no warui hito ni taishite hara ga tatsu no wa wakaranai demo nai ga, te o dasu no wa yokunai.
• It's not that I don't understand getting angry at rude people, but resorting to violence isn't good.
  

Usage 2: Reserved Possibility

• Connection: Verb ない-form + ないではない／ないでもない
• Meaning: It's not that... / There is a possibility...
• Explanation: This usage expresses a reserved possibility, indicating that something is not entirely impossible, even if there are limitations.

Examples:

• 今いま素直すなおに謝あやまってくれるのであれば、許ゆるしてやらないでもない。
• Ima sunao ni ayamatte kureru no de areba, yurushite yaranai demo nai.
• If you sincerely apologize now, it's not that I can't forgive you.
  

• お金かねさえ積つんでくれれば、譲ゆずれないものでもない。
• Okane sae tsunde kureba, yuzurenai mono demo nai.
• If you're willing to pay enough, it's not that I can't compromise.
  

Comparison and Differences

Comparison with 「〜わけではない」

Both 〜わけではない and 〜ないではない express negation, but their nuances differ.

• 〜わけではない: Means "it's not that..." and has a softer tone, often used for partial negation.
• 〜ないではない: Means "not entirely..." and has a more reserved tone, emphasizing that something is not completely denied.

Expression	Usage	Example	English Translation
〜わけではない	Partial negation	彼かれの意見いけんを完全かんぜんに否定ひていするわけではないが、賛成さんせいできない。	It's not that I completely deny his opinion, but I can't agree with it.
〜ないではない	Reserved attitude	彼かれの意見いけんも正ただしいという気きがしないでもない。	It's not that I don't feel his opinion might be correct.

Comparison with 「〜なくもない」

〜なくもない and 〜ないではない have similar grammatical structures, both being double negatives, but their tones differ slightly.

• 〜なくもない: More colloquial, often used to express that something is possible under certain circumstances.
• 〜ないではない: More formal, often used in written language.

Expression	Usage	Example	English Translation
〜なくもない	Colloquial expression	この料理りょうりも悪わるくなくもない。	This dish isn't entirely bad.
〜ないではない	Formal expression	ここからは少すこし遠とおいが、頑張がんばれば歩あるいて行いけないでもない。	It's a bit far from here, but if you push yourself, it's not impossible to walk there.

Real-Life Scenarios

• In business settings, using 〜ないではない can make your reservations about a proposal sound more polite.
• In everyday conversations, using 〜ないでもない can soften the tone when expressing uncertainty or possibility.

Summary

〜ないではない and 〜ないでもない are commonly used double negative expressions in Japanese, conveying a reserved attitude and indicating that something is not entirely denied or that there is some possibility. These expressions are widely used in both daily conversations and written language, and understanding their usage and nuances is crucial for improving Japanese language skills.