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
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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）ろよ。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）が好（す）きじゃないの？かわいくない？」
    さかき「猫（ねこ）はかわいいと思（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）けるよ。」
    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）だよ。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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    なり～なり
    JapaneseTest4You
    Double negative: ない+ない
    MaggieSensei
    ないものでもない
    JapaneseTest4You
    ないでもない
    LearnJapaneseDaily
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