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

Structure

Noun + は⁽¹⁾ + 少(すく)なくない

⁽¹⁾ が、も

Details

About すくなくない

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).

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.

Examples

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アニメと漫画(まんが)が好(す)きな人(ひと)は少(すく)なくないですよ。

There are quite a few people that like anime and manga.

ハセガワ：「僕(ぼく)は友達(ともだち)が少(すく)なくないよ。」

Hasegawa: 'I have quite a few friends.'

朝(あさ)ごはんを食(た)べない人(ひと)も少(すく)なくないです。

There are quite a few people who do not eat breakfast.

そう思(おも)っている人(ひと)も少(すく)なくない。

Quite a few people think like that.

彼女(かのじょ)の欲(ほ)しがっているものが少(すく)なくないんだ。

There are many things that she wants.

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すくなくない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

Pushindawood
quite a few
quite a lot
many
not a few
not a little
Structure
- Noun + は/が/も + 少なくない
View on Bunpro
garlicdog
Could けっこう be used here as well, instead of すくなくない?
Daru
It can’t be used in this expression since 結構 is an adjective that can be used as an adverb too, where as 少なくない (or “fewn’t” as I like to think about it) is just a set expression. Look at example sentences, and you’ll see that 結構 can be usually found at the start of a sentence, while 少なくない is typically more in the end due to what part of speech they are.

Hope this helps!
severian

Daru:

(or “fewn’t” as I like to think about it)

I’m glad someone else does this!
AtomicRunner
Sorry to bump this

About this sentence:

ハセガワ：「僕()は友達()が少( )なくない よ。」
Hasegawa: ‘I have quite a few friends.’

I tried translating it using a couple different sites, and they all gave me the opposite meaning (“I don’t have many friends.”). Which one is correct?
kimietsuka
I would love to know the answer to this too!
IcyIceBear
RadicalC
I feel like ive heard 結構ある more often than 少なくない。
What would you say the difference between the two is.