〜ないでもない / 〜ないものでもない nai de mo nai / nai mono de mo nai

〜ないでもない / 〜ないものでもない(nai de mo nai / nai mono de mo nai)means “it's not that one can't / won't; it's possible to some extent”. A double negative that softly affirms: 'it's not the case that I won't/can't do it' = 'I might well do it / it could be possible', but stated reluctantly or with reservation. Formation: V-ない+でもない/V-ない+ものでもない(イA-くない+ものでもない、ナA・Nには「ないものでもない」を使う)

it's not that one can't / won't; it's possible to some extent

N2

Formation

V-ない+でもない/V-ない+ものでもない(イA-くない+ものでもない、ナA・Nには「ないものでもない」を使う)

Explanation

A double negative that softly affirms: 'it's not the case that I won't/can't do it' = 'I might well do it / it could be possible', but stated reluctantly or with reservation. 「ないものでもない」is a slightly stiffer, more emphatic variant meaning much the same.

Examples

値段次第では、買わないでもない
ねだんしだいでは、かわないでもない。
Depending on the price, it's not that I wouldn't buy it.
君が本気で頼むなら、手伝わないものでもない
きみがほんきでたのむなら、てつだわないものでもない。
If you ask me in earnest, it's not as though I wouldn't help you.

Note

Often paired with a condition like 「〜次第では」/「〜なら」. The reluctance/conditional tone is key; it is not a plain 'yes'.

FAQ

〜ないでもない / 〜ないものでもない — what does it mean and how is it used?

it's not that one can't / won't; it's possible to some extent. A double negative that softly affirms: 'it's not the case that I won't/can't do it' = 'I might well do it / it could be possible', but stated reluctantly or with reservation. 「ないものでもない」is a slightly stiffer, more emphatic variant meaning much the same.

〜ないでもない / 〜ないものでもない — how do you form it?

V-ない+でもない/V-ない+ものでもない(イA-くない+ものでもない、ナA・Nには「ないものでもない」を使う)

〜ないでもない / 〜ないものでもない — any usage notes?

Often paired with a condition like 「〜次第では」/「〜なら」. The reluctance/conditional tone is key; it is not a plain 'yes'.

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