日本語道場

Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2

Grammar

N2

~と言えなくもない

~to ienaku mo nai

one could even say

When to use it

Use this when you want to concede that an interpretation is defensible without fully endorsing it — a hedged "you could argue that…". It is common in reports, meeting discussion and negotiation, often followed by が/ものの and a counterpoint that carries your real position. The double negative (言える → 言えない → 言えなくもない) makes it noticeably more cautious and more literary than ~と言える or ~かもしれない.

Formation

  • Verb (plain, incl. past/negative/ている): 伸びていると言えなくもない、間に合ったと言えなくもない
  • i-adjective (plain): 割高い→ 高いと言えなくもない
  • na-adjective: 妥当だと言えなくもない(written: 妥当であると言えなくもない)
  • Noun: 前進だと言えなくもない
  • Polite / written variants: ~と言えなくもありません、~と言えなくもないだろう、~とも言えなくはない
  • Frequently followed by が・ものの・however-type contrast: ~と言えなくもないが、…

Examples

  • One could even say we put up a good fight with this quarter's numbers.

  • Given the costs, one could even say it was a reasonable call.

  • You could argue their demands are unreasonable, but we still need to concede.

  • One could even say withdrawal is an option as well.

  • We met the deadline, so one could even say it wasn't a failure.