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まんざら〜でもない

not altogether (bad), rather pleased

まんざら + でもない / 〜ではない / 悪くない

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まんざら comes with a negative and means "not altogether, not entirely": 田舎暮らしもまんざら悪くない, "country life isn't so bad after all".

The set phrase まんざらでもない describes someone who is quietly pleased while pretending not to be: 褒められて、彼はまんざらでもない様子だった, "he looked rather pleased at the praise". This is its most common use, and it's a lovely, very Japanese piece of understatement.

It's close to あながち〜ない, "not necessarily". Both rescue something from being dismissed, but あながち is about truth or correctness, while まんざら is more about value and feelings. Only まんざら forms the set phrase まんざらでもない.

Examples

  • 褒ほめられて、彼かれはまんざらでもない様子ようすだった。

    He looked rather pleased at the praise.

  • 彼かれの料理りょうりの腕うでもまんざらではない。

    His cooking isn't half bad.

  • 田舎暮いなかぐらしもまんざら悪わるくない。

    Country life isn't so bad after all.

  • その話はなしもまんざら嘘うそではなさそうだ。

    That story doesn't seem to be entirely untrue.

  • デートに誘さそわれて、まんざらでもない顔かおをしていた。

    When she was asked on a date, she looked rather pleased.

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