少(すく)なくないQuite a few, Quite a lot, Many, Not a few, Not a little

Another expression that utilizes the 少(すく) kanji (meaning 'few'), in its い-Adjective form, is 少(すく)なくない. This is an example of a double negative in Japanese, as 少(すく)ない 'a few' is being negated in 少(すく)なくない. Therefore, the meaning is 'not a few', and translates more closely to 'quite a few', or 'quite a lot'.

To use this expression, simply pair a noun with は, が, or も, and then follow it with 少(すく)なくない (or 少(すく)なくありません).

• 漢字(かんじ)を書(か)くのが嫌(きら)いな子(こ)は少(すく)なくない。

  There are quite a few children that dislike writing kanji.
• 私(わたし)は好(す)き嫌(きら)いが少(すく)なくないんです。

  I have many things that I like and dislike.
• 寝(ね)る前(まえ)にお菓子(かし)を食(た)べる人(ひと)も少(すく)なくない。

  There are also many people that eat snacks before they sleep.

Caution

The ない in 少(すく)ない is not the い-Adjective ない, but part of the word 少(すく)ない itself. There are several い-Adjectives like this in Japanese, and they will need to be remembered.

• 今年(ことし)は去年(きょねん)よりも雨(あめ)が降(ふ)る日(ひ)が少(すく)ない。

  Compared to last year, there are fewer days with rain this year.
• 天気(てんき)が悪(わる)い時(とき)に釣(つ)りに行(い)くのは危(あぶ)ない。

  It is dangerous to go fishing when the weather's bad.
• 手(て)が汚(きたな)いから手(て)を洗(あら)う。

  My hands are dirty so I will wash them.