# ないものでもない: is not entirely impossible > Learn how to use ないものでもない, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning is not entirely impossible, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-nai-mono-demo-nai/ **ないものでもない** means **is not entirely impossible**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that something is not entirely impossible—there is a chance, though the speaker is reluctant to assert it outright. This double‑negative construction softens a statement, adding a layer of reserve or humility. If you want to leave a possibility floating while keeping your distance, ないものでもない is what you reach for. It can make your Japanese sound more considered, less abrupt, and very adult. ## What does ないものでもない mean? Use **ないものでもない** when you want to express that something is **not wholly out of the question**. You are not committing to “it is possible”; rather, you are saying “it is not entirely impossible”—a subtle but important difference. Natural translations include: - it is not that … cannot … - it isn’t entirely impossible - there is a chance (though I’m hesitant to say so) The best translation depends on the flow of the sentence. Pay attention to why the speaker is avoiding a straight “yes” or “no” and choose the English phrase that fits that reluctance. ## How to form ないものでもない Attach ものでもない to the negative verb or adjective. The grammar sits after the ない-form of the predicate.
食べ(たべ)ない + ものでもない
V-ない + ものでもない　　　　い-adj (くない) + ものでもない
Examples: - わからない + ものでもない → わからないものでもない (it is not that I don’t understand) - 難しく(むずかしく)ない + ものでもない → 難しく(むずかしく)ないものでもない (it is not that it isn’t difficult → it may be difficult) - 静か(しずか)ではない + ものでもない → 静か(しずか)ではないものでもない (it is not that it is not quiet → it might indeed be quiet) In JLPT N1 questions, be careful: ものでもない attaches to the **full ない-form**, not to the dictionary form or te-form. ## When is ないものでもない used? Use **ないものでもない** in situations like: - You agree with someone but don’t want to sound too enthusiastic - You want to indicate a possibility while remaining non‑committal - You are softening a refusal or a criticism—leaving a little space for the other person’s position - Formal or polite contexts where a direct “yes” might feel too blunt Tone and register: - Formal to semi‑formal; common in business conversations, polite email, and thoughtful speech. - Can appear in written arguments and high‑level reading passages. ## ないものでもない example sentences

彼かれの言いっていることが理解りかいできないものでもない。

It is not that I cannot understand what he is saying.
(I understand it, to some degree.)

soft agreement

条件じょうけんによっては参加さんかしないものでもない。

Depending on the conditions, it is not the case that I won’t participate.
(I might participate, under the right circumstances.)

cautious possibility

この仕事しごと、全まったくできないものでもないが、難むずかしいことは確たしかだ。

This job is not entirely impossible, but it is certainly difficult.

qualified statement

その提案ていあんに反対はんたいしないものでもないが、もっと説得力せっとくりょくが必要ひつようだ。

It is not that I am opposed to the proposal, but it needs more convincing.

hesitant partial agreement

あなたの気持きもちがわからないものでもない。

It’s not that I don’t understand your feelings.
(I do understand them.)

acknowledging the other side

今いますぐにでなくても、将来しょうらいやる可能性かのうせいがまったくないものでもない。

Even if not right now, it’s not that there is absolutely no chance of doing it in the future.

leaving the door open
After reading each sentence, notice how ないものでもない lets the speaker avoid a firm yes or no. That hedging function is the core of the pattern. ## Nuance of ないものでもない The key nuance is **a soft, roundabout way to admit a possibility without fully endorsing it**. The もの (thing/situation) reinforces the idea that you are talking about a situation as a whole, not just a simple negation-of-negation. When you say わからないものでもない, you are effectively saying *“the situation is not one in which I don't understand”*—a conceptual layer that pure わからないでもない lacks. This makes the expression feel more thoughtful and less blunt, which is why it fits in formal contexts. Because of that, ないものでもない often carries a sense of deliberation or social distance. A boss might say 検討(けんとう)しないものでもない to hint at flexibility without making a promise; a colleague might say できないものでもない to show they are open while still managing expectations.
💡 Use ないものでもない when you want to nod in someone’s direction without actually walking over to their side.
## ないものでもない vs ないでもない Both **ないものでもない** and **ないでもない** express a double negative that softens a statement, but they differ in weight and formality.
ないものでもない
Indirect, nuanced, formal
Used when you want to frame a possibility as part of a larger situation. Often found in business letters, polite conversation, and written arguments.
わからないものでもない
It is not the case that I don’t understand. → I do understand, under the circumstances.
ないでもない
More direct double negative, semi‑formal
A simpler version. It still denies a negative, but without the “もの” wrapper, so it feels less elaborate. Common in everyday polite speech when you want to sound cooperative.
わからないでもない
It isn’t that I don’t understand. → It is understandable, in a way.
⚡ Quick check: if you are writing a formal email to a client, choose ないものでもない. If you are talking to a teammate and want to soften your disagreement lightly, ないでもない will usually feel more natural.
When both seem possible, ask yourself how much distance you want to create. More distance → ないものでもない; less distance → ないでもない. ## Common mistakes with ないものでもない Be careful to avoid these:
❌
反対(はんたい)しないものでもない。 (when you actually mean “I am strongly opposed”)
✅
反対(はんたい)しないものでもないが、正直(しょうじき)に言う(ゆう)と気(き)が進ま(すすま)ない。
Misleading use: the grammar signals openness, not firm opposition. If you intend a hard no, don’t use it.
❌
可能性(かのうせい)があるものでもない。
✅
可能性(かのうせい)がないものでもない。
Double negative mismatch. You need a negated predicate (ない) for ものでもない to follow. ある is positive; ない is the starting point.
❌
行き(いき)たいものでもない。
✅
行き(いき)たくないものでもない。
Wanting to go is a positive desire; you negate it first to use this pattern: 行き(いき)たくない + ものでもない.
A good habit: always trace your sentence back to the negative form you’re wrapping. If there’s no ない, the pattern can’t attach. ## Is ないものでもない on the JLPT?
N1
ないものでもない is standard N1 grammar. You can expect it in reading comprehension and listening, often in passages where characters are negotiating or speaking indirectly.
For the exam, don’t just memorize the translation. Practise hearing it in dialogues and seeing it in formal letters. The JLPT often rewards grasp of tone, not just vocabulary. ## Practice questions for ないものでもない Try these prompts to make the pattern stick:
1
Imagine a colleague asks if you could work on a project next month. You are willing but don’t want to promise. Write a sentence using ないものでもない.
business Japanese
2
A friend suggests a restaurant you’ve heard mixed reviews about. You don’t hate the idea. Answer with ないものでもない.
casual polite
3
Replace the last line in this exchange with a version using ないものでもない:
「この計画(けいかく)、無理(むり)だと思う(おもう)？」
「…いや、無理(むり)じゃないかもしれない。」
rephrase challenge
4
Write a sentence where ないものでもない is followed by が, introducing a reservation or condition.
conjugation practice
5
Think of a situation where you want to say “It’s not that I can’t do it, but I’d rather not.” Use ないものでもない.
real‑world usage
Write your answers out loud or on paper. The more you wrap real intentions inside this gentle double‑negative, the faster it will become automatic. ## Learning path for ないものでもない To master **ないものでもない**, follow these steps:
1
Confirm you can attach it to any V‑ない, い‑adj‑くない, and な‑adj‑ではない form without hesitating. Drill a few: 食べ(たべ)ない→食べ(たべ)ないものでもない, 難しく(むずかしく)ない→難しく(むずかしく)ないものでもない.
2
Compare it side‑by‑side with ないでもない. Write the same sentence twice—once with ないものでもない, once with ないでもない—and feel how the formality shifts.
3
Craft a short formal reply (e.g., to a client or a professor) where you accept a suggestion without fully committing. Use ないものでもない as the core verb.
4
Read or listen to N1‑level materials (news editorials, business meetings, polite debates) and highlight every instance you hear the grammar. Notice what the speaker *didn’t* say.
5
Finally, use ないものでもない in a live conversation—perhaps with a tutor or language partner—where you truly want to sound considerate and unsure. Real feedback will cement the nuance.
## Related grammar to review next These grammar points all orbit around negation, possibility, and softening: - [ないまでも](/blog/n1-nai-made-mo/) — “not to the point of … but at least…” — another pattern that walks back a full‑on statement. Studying it alongside ないものでもない will sharpen your feel for Japanese reservation. - [ないものか・ないものだろうか](/blog/n1-nai-mono-ka-nai-mono-darou-ka/) — expresses a longing wish that something were possible, using a similar double‑negative skeleton. Good for contrasting hope versus mere possibility. - [ないとも限ら(かぎら)ない](/blog/n1-nai-tomo-kagiranai/) — “might (not) be the case” — another cautious double negative, but here the focus shifts to uncertainty about a fact, not personal intent. - [ながらに・ながらの](/blog/n1-nagara-ni-nagara-no/) — “while still in that state” — less about negation, but its formality and use in written commentary align well with the register of ないものでもない. Each link opens a grammar post from the Hane library, complete with examples and practice. ## Learn ないものでもない with Hane If you want to review **ないものでもない** alongside the patterns above, Hane helps you practise Japanese in short, focused sessions. The app serves you sentences in context and lets you build automaticity through spaced repetition. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)