Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 5: 18/20

ない~はない
There is not ~ that is not/does not

Structure
Verb[ない]+ Noun + + ない
[い]Adjective[ない]+ Noun + + Verb[ない]
[な]Adjective + じゃない(1) + Noun + + Verb[ない]

(1) ではない
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
~ない~はない is an example of a double negative in Japanese, and is a grammar construction that requires careful attention in order not to incorrectly interpret. Both the 形容詞(けいようし) (い-Adjective), and 助動詞(じょどうし) (Auxiliary verb) forms of ない may be used in this construction, depending on what type of word is being negated. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
  • 彼(かれ)ピアノ弾(ひ)けない曲(きょく)ない
    There is no song that he can't play on the piano.
  • 私(わたし)美味(おい)しくない食(た)べ物(もの)食(た)べない
    I don't eat food that does not taste good.
  • 彼(かれ)は安(やす)くない靴(くつ)は買(か)わない
    He doesn't buy shoes that aren't cheap.
Literally, this grammar pattern is very similar to ‘there isn’t an (A) that doesn’t (B)’ in English.
Caution
This term is not to to be confused with なくはない, a more advanced grammar pattern which means ‘It’s not that it isn’t (A)’.
  • 私(わたし)に書(か) ない漢字(かんじ)ない
    There is no kanji that I cannot write.
  • 私(わたし)漢字(かんじ)書(か)なくはないけど...
    It's not that I can't write kanji, but…
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私(わたし)友達(ともだち)の中(なか)でピザ好(す)きじゃない 人(ひと)一人(ひとり)いない
There is not a single person in my group of friends that doesn't like pizza.
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この大学(だいがく)日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)していない人(ひと)いません
There is not a person who does not study Japanese at this university.
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紙(かみ)使(つか)わない会社(かいしゃ)一(ひと)つありません
There is not a single company that does not use paper.
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