Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 10/18

じゃないかIsn't it?, Is it not?

Structure

Phrase + じゃない + か

Details

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About じゃないか

When learning じゃない and ではない, we briefly mentioned that these constructions are regularly partnered with the particle か, in order to form a (usually casual) question. In this lesson, we will further explore this usage.

Unlike じゃない and ではない (which need to come after a noun or な-Adjective), じゃないか is able to be attached to the end of almost any phrase, to indicate a question. This is very similar to finishing a sentence with 'isn't it?' in English.

When じゃないか is too casual, ではないか will be used instead. Despite being more formal, this may sound a bit stiff at times, so is best only used when politeness is expected.

Examples

--:--

    そのことじゃなかったか。

    It was about that, wasn't it?

    もう終(お)わるんじゃないか。

    It will finish already, won't it?

    あれカメラじゃないか！

    Isn't that a camera!?

    次(つぎ)の駅(えき)で降(お)りるんじゃないか？

    The next station is the one we get off at, isn't it?

    この橋(はし)を渡(わた)るのが怖(こわ)いんじゃないか？

    It is scary crossing this bridge, isn't it?

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じゃないか – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • simias

    simias

    Makes sense, thank you for the help as always!

  • Siesta

    Siesta

    It’s super confusing that de wa nai ka is the polite example, but it’s not accepted as a correct answer. They only except desu.

  • ggoldberg

    ggoldberg

    I’m noticing all the examples with いadj or verbs before じゃないか add 「ん」, but なadj and nouns don’t. Is this a rule? I don’t see it mentioned in the structure section.

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