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 + 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

Details

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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(けいようし)), 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(かれ)にはピアノで弾(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)は美味(おい)しくない食(た)べ物(もの)は食(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)けない漢字(かんじ)はない。
    There is no kanji that I cannot write.
  • 私(わたし)は漢字(かんじ)を書(か)けなくはないけど...
    It's not that I can't write kanji, but…

Examples

  • 私(わたし)の友達(ともだち)の中(なか)でピザが好(す)きじゃない 人(ひと)は一人(ひとり)もいない。

    There is not a single person in my group of friends that doesn't like pizza.

  • この大学(だいがく)で日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)していない人(ひと)はいません。

    There is not a person who does not study Japanese at this university.

  • 紙(かみ)を使(つか)わない会社(かいしゃ)は一(ひと)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(おい)しくないコーヒーは絶対(ぜったい)ない。

    At that café, there is absolutely no coffee that is not delicious.

  • 夢(ゆめ)を見(み)ない人(ひと)は居(い)ないだろう。

    There is not a single person who doesn't dream, right?

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～ない～はない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (13 in total)

  • FredKore

    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

    evandcs

    but in this case

    ボスの家（いえ）にはテレビを置（お）いていない 部屋（へや）はない。

    there was a は before. Shouldnt it be only ない too?

  • FredKore

    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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