ないことはない — It's Not That You Can't
A double negative used to give a reserved, cautious affirmative — 'it's not that (something) can't/isn't (done)'. It softens a statement, admitting a possibility while holding back full commitment. Often used to concede something reluctantly or leave room for conditions.
Structure
[Verb / い-adj / な-adj / Noun (negative plain)] + ことはない／こともない
Examples
この漢字が読めないことはないが、少し自信がない。
Kono kanji ga yomenai koto wa nai ga, sukoshi jishin ga nai.
It's not that I can't read this kanji, but I'm a little unsure.
読めない + ことはない gives a hedged 'I can read it' with reservation.
時間があれば、手伝わないこともない。
Jikan ga areba, tetsudawanai koto mo nai.
If I have time, it's not like I wouldn't help.
手伝わない + こともない reluctantly concedes willingness under a condition.
この料理、おいしくないことはないけど、また食べたいとは思わない。
Kono ryouri, oishikunai koto wa nai kedo, mata tabetai to wa omowanai.
It's not that this dish isn't tasty, but I don't want to eat it again.
おいしくない (い-adj negative) + ことはない gives a lukewarm affirmation.
• Conveys reluctance, hedging, or partial agreement rather than a firm 'yes'. • こともない is slightly softer/more casual than ことはない. • Frequently followed by が or けど to add a caveat.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ないことはない is tested against.
vs わけではない
わけではない denies a conclusion someone might draw ('it doesn't mean that…'); ないことはない gives a hedged affirmative possibility ('it's not that you can't').
vs ないわけにはいかない
ないわけにはいかない means 'must / can't avoid doing'; ないことはない merely admits something is possible with reservation.
More modal expressions
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