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.
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.