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.
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) - 難しくない + ものでもない → 難しくないものでもない
(it is not that it isn’t difficult → it may be difficult) - 静かではない + ものでもない → 静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
彼の言っていることが理解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.)
条件によっては参加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.)
この仕事、全くできないものでもないが、難しいことは確かだ。
This job is not entirely impossible, but it is certainly difficult.
その提案に反対しないものでもないが、もっと説得力が必要だ。
It is not that I am opposed to the proposal, but it needs more convincing.
あなたの気持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.)
今すぐにでなくても、将来やる可能性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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
- Test questions may ask you to choose the appropriate expression for a hesitant, polite speaker.
- Look for contexts where a direct “yes” would be too forward—ないものでもない fits that gap perfectly.
- Understanding its nuanced difference from ないでもない can help you eliminate similar‑looking wrong answers.
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:
「この計画、無理だと思う？」
「…いや、無理じゃないかもしれない。」
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:
Related grammar to review next
These grammar points all orbit around negation, possibility, and softening:
- ないまでも — “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 — expresses a longing wish that something were possible, using a similar double‑negative skeleton. Good for contrasting hope versus mere possibility.
- ないとも限らない — “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 — “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:
FAQ about ないものでもない
What does ないものでもない mean in Japanese?
ないものでもない means “is not entirely impossible” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is ないものでもない on the JLPT?
ないものでもない is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice ないものでもない?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after ないものでもない, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.