Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 6: 10/17

ないでもない
kind of, might, slightly, it’s not (impossible) that, somewhat, in some respects

Structure
Verb[ない]+ (もの)+ でも(1) + ない

(1)では
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
  • Aないでもない is a euphemistic expression meaning that the speaker/writer is not entirely certain or very confident about A but slightly understands/feels it or that A might be possible under certain circumstances. Often used with the conditional form, conjunctions like が・けど and phrases like わかる、(ような)気がする、感じる、思う and 考える.
  • It is slightly more formal and less common than なく(は/も)ない. ないものでもない is the most formal and least popular variant, it’s better to avoid using it.
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先輩(せんぱい)あの雲(くも)を見(み)ろ。シマウマみたいに見(み)えるぞ。」
後輩(こうはい)「まあシマウマに見(み)えないでもないですね。」
Senpai: “Look at that cloud! It looks like a zebra.”
Kouhai: “Well, it kind of looks like a zebra.”
Doesn't not look like
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友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)》ちよ「猫(ねこ)好(す)きじゃないの?かわいくない?」
さかき「猫(ねこ)かわいいと思(おも)わないでもないけど、噛(か)むしひっかくしできるだけ避(さ)ける。」
Chat between friends, Chiyo: “Don’t you like cats? Aren’t they cute?”
Sakaki: “I think that they are kind of cute, but they bite and scratch so I try to avoid them as much as possible.”
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《友人(ゆうじん)に文句(もんく)を言(い)う》「最近(さいきん)両親(りょうしん)はうちの子犬(こいぬ)に夢中(むちゅう)だ。まあその気持(きも)ちはわからないでもないけど。とても可愛(かわい)らしいから。」
Complaining to a friend: “Recently, my parents are all about our puppy! I kind of understand them though. It’s pretty adorable.”
気持ちはわからないでもない is a very common phrase
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Books
Try N1
Page 41
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
Page 223
A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
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