Structure
Verb[ない]+ Noun + は + ない
[い]Adjective[ない]+ Noun + は + Verb[ない]
[な]Adjective + じゃない(1) + Noun + は + Verb[ない]
(1) ではない
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Standard
使用域
一般
About ~ない~はない
~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 い-Adjective (形容詞), and 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.
- 彼にはピアノで弾けない曲ない。There is no song that he can't play on the piano.
- 私は美味しくない食べ物は食べない。I don't eat food that does not taste good.
- 彼は安くない靴は買わない。He doesn't buy shoes that aren't cheap.
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)'.- 私に書けない漢字はない。There is no kanji that I cannot write.
- 私は漢字を書けなくはないけど...It's not that I can't write kanji, but…
Synonyms
Examples
私の友達の中でピザが好きじゃない 人は一人もいない。
There is not a single person in my group of friends that doesn't like pizza.
この大学で日本語を勉強していない人はいません。
There is not a person who does not study Japanese at this university.
紙を使わない会社は一つもありません。
There is not a single company that does not use paper.
あそこのカフェで美味しくないコーヒーは絶対ない。
At that café, there is absolutely no coffee that is not delicious.
夢を見ない人は居ないだろう。
There is not a single person who doesn't dream, right?
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Using multiple negatives in a sentence
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~ない~はない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (13 in total)
FredKore
Because the は already occurs earlier in the sentence, and it’s tied to コーヒー. In this sentence, 絶対 (absolutely, no way) is an adverb describing ない. You could make the same sentence without 絶対 and it’d be the same meaning but a little softer.
あそこのカフェで美味しくないコーヒーはない。
At that cafe, there’s no coffee that is not delicious.evandcs
but in this case
ボスの家にはテレビを置いていない 部屋はない。
there was a は before. Shouldnt it be only ない too?
FredKore
You can have more than one は. Each one goes with a different topic.
The ideas are grouped together like this:
ボスの家には【(テレビを置いていない部屋)はない】
Within the topic of: ボスの家に…
There is none of: ない…
The topic of: テレビを置いていない部屋.
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