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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜ないでもない

    〜ないでもない

    〜ないでもない

    This phrase means "it's not that I don't..." or "I might...". You use it to say you are a little bit willing to do something.

    N2KMT6NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedFunctional Patterns With MonoGrammar

    Verb [ない-form] + でもないPrimary
    い-Adjective [negative] + でもない
    な-Adjective + ではない + でもない

    This phrase means "it's not that I don't..." or "I might...". You use it to say you are a little bit willing to do something.

    もう一いっ杯ぱいどう? うーん、飲のまないでもないけど、明あし日たは朝あさ早はやいんだ。

    How about another glass? Hmm, it's not that I won't drink it, but I have to get up early tomorrow.

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceConcessiveFood & DiningDaily Life
    彼かれからの謝しゃ罪ざい、許ゆるさないでもなかったけれど、すぐには元もとの関かん係けいには戻もどれなかった。

    It wasn't that I couldn't forgive his apology, but I couldn't go back to how our relationship was right away.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConcessiveFamily & RelationshipsEmotions & Psychology
    部ぶ長ちょうの新あたらしい方ほう針しんに、賛さん成せいできないでもないが、現げん場ばの負ふ担たんが大おおきすぎる。

    It's not that I can't agree with the director's new policy, but the burden on the front-line staff is just too great.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceConcessiveWork & CareerBusiness & Finance
    ギターを弾ひけるの? まあ、少すこしなら弾ひけないでもないです。

    Can you play the guitar? Well, it's not as if I can't play a little.

    PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeMusic & Entertainment
    このデザイン、悪わるくないでもないんじゃない?

    This design... it's not that it's not bad, is it? (i.e., It's actually kind of good, don't you think?)

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalArt & Design

    This phrase is like saying 'maybe' or 'I guess so'. It shows you are not fully excited. It's a gentle way to agree, not a strong 'yes'.

    This is different from "~ないものでもない". That phrase means something is hard but still possible. This grammar, "~ないでもない", is about your own feelings. It shows you might do something, even if you don't really want to.

    Watch out: This phrase has two 'not' words. But it does not mean 'definitely not'. It means 'maybe yes' or 'I might'.

    Use this when you want to agree a little bit. It shows you are not fully committed. You might add a reason why you are not fully sure.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜ものか

    This phrase shows strong disagreement. It means "No way!" or "Absolutely not!". You use it to say the opposite of what was just said.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜ないものでもない

    This means something is possible. It is like saying, "I might be able to do it." It shows a weak or unsure possibility.

    ない形

    This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

    〜ないことはない

    This means "it's not that I can't do it." It shows you can do something. But you might not be super excited about it.

    〜ないで

    This means you do something without doing another thing. It is like saying 'without doing X' or 'instead of doing X'.

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    Related concepts for this entry

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    • 〜ないものでもない

    contrasts_with

    • 〜ものか

    prerequisite

    • ない形
    • 〜ないことはない
    • 〜ないで

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