〜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.

Dictionary

〜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.

N3 KMT4NeutralStandardAdverbial ConstructionMixedFunctional Patterns With KotoGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ことはないPrimary

い-Adjective [く-form] + ないことはない

な-Adjective + で + 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.

納豆は、食べられないことはないけど、あまり好きじゃないんだ。

It's not that I can't eat natto, but I'm not a big fan of it.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

あの時、後悔しなかったことはなかったよ。今でも時々思い出す。

It's not that I didn't have regrets back then. I still think about it sometimes.

CasualPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

このバッグ、欲しくないことはないんですが、高くて手が出ません。

It's not that I don't want this bag, but it's too expensive for me to afford.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFashion & Beauty Daily Life

彼が親切でないことはない。ただ、少し口下手なだけだ。

It's not that he isn't kind. He's just not a great talker.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

やってみないことはないですが、成功する保証はありません。

It's not that I won't give it a try, but there's no guarantee of success.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceConcessiveWork & Career Business & Finance

This grammar is like saying "I guess so" or "It's not impossible." You are saying yes, but you don't sound very excited about it. It shows you might have other feelings.

This is different from 〜ないことには. That phrase means 'if X does not happen, then Y cannot happen.' It shows a strong need. But 〜ないことはない is a soft 'yes.' It means 'it's not that I don't have it.'

Use this when you want to agree a little, then say 'but'. You say 'It's not that I can't do it,' then add a problem. It shows you understand but have a reason why it's hard.

Often confused with(1)

〜ないことには

This means 'unless something happens, something else cannot happen'. It shows that the first thing must happen for the second thing to be possible.

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.

〜こと

This word makes a verb or sentence into a noun. It talks about facts, events, or actions. It sounds more formal than '～の'.

〜は (contrastive)

Marks an item for contrast, implying that the statement is true for the marked item but may not be for others, which can be stated or unstated. It is often used to soften a negative statement or to express partial agreement.

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Dictionary

〜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.

N3 KMT4NeutralStandardAdverbial ConstructionMixedFunctional Patterns With KotoGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ことはないPrimary

い-Adjective [く-form] + ないことはない

な-Adjective + で + 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.

納豆は、食べられないことはないけど、あまり好きじゃないんだ。

It's not that I can't eat natto, but I'm not a big fan of it.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

あの時、後悔しなかったことはなかったよ。今でも時々思い出す。

It's not that I didn't have regrets back then. I still think about it sometimes.

CasualPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

このバッグ、欲しくないことはないんですが、高くて手が出ません。

It's not that I don't want this bag, but it's too expensive for me to afford.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFashion & Beauty Daily Life

彼が親切でないことはない。ただ、少し口下手なだけだ。

It's not that he isn't kind. He's just not a great talker.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

やってみないことはないですが、成功する保証はありません。

It's not that I won't give it a try, but there's no guarantee of success.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceConcessiveWork & Career Business & Finance

This grammar is like saying "I guess so" or "It's not impossible." You are saying yes, but you don't sound very excited about it. It shows you might have other feelings.

Use this when you want to agree a little, then say 'but'. You say 'It's not that I can't do it,' then add a problem. It shows you understand but have a reason why it's hard.

Often confused with(1)

〜ないことには

This means 'unless something happens, something else cannot happen'. It shows that the first thing must happen for the second thing to be possible.

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.

〜こと

This word makes a verb or sentence into a noun. It talks about facts, events, or actions. It sounds more formal than '～の'.

〜は (contrastive)

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜ないことはない

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with1

Often confused with(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜ないことはない

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with1

Often confused with(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery