modality N2 uncommon casualpolitewritten
ないでもない — it's not that ~ isn't so
ないでもない
Builds on ないで
Meaning
- it's not that ~ isn't so / I do somewhat ~ — a hedged double negative, most natural with verbs of feeling, thinking, or understanding
Key sentence
彼の言い分も、理解できないでもない。
It's not that I can't understand his point of view, either.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (ない form) + でもない | V(ない) + でもない | 思わないでもない / 期待しないでもない |
Examples
反対したい気持ちは、分からないでもない。
I can sort of see why you'd want to object.
少し寂しく感じないでもなかった。
I couldn't say I felt nothing lonely about it.
Easily confused with
なくもない なくもない uses the なく continuative and is broadly usable; ないでもない uses the ないで form and clings especially to feeling/thinking verbs (思う, 分かる, 感じる). ないこともない ないこともない leans toward conceding a possibility/capability ('it's not impossible'); ないでもない leans toward a reluctant inner admission ('I do somewhat ~').
See ないでもない in real sentences
Jengo shows ないでもない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.