すくなくない (JLPT N4)

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).

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.

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 (6 in total)

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