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〜ないでもない

sort of, somewhat (can see, feel)

Verb ない-form + でもない

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ないでもない is a hesitant double negative meaning "I do, a little": その気持ちも分からないでもない, "I can sort of understand how you feel".

It softens an admission, as if you're reluctant to agree fully. It's common with verbs of understanding, feeling and seeing: 分かる, 理解できる, 気がする, 似ている, 考える.

It's close to ないことはない (N3), and ないものでもない is the most formal of the three.

Don't confuse it with ないで, "without". Here でもない is "it's not that it isn't". The effect is a grudging, partial agreement, which is useful when you want to be fair to someone's view without fully endorsing it.

Examples

  • その気持きもちも分わからないでもない。

    I can sort of understand how you feel.

  • 彼かれの言いうことも理解りかいできないでもない。

    I can see where he's coming from, to some extent.

  • 少すこし寂さびしい気きがしないでもない。

    I do feel a little lonely, I suppose.

  • 言いわれてみれば、似にていないでもない。

    Now that you mention it, they do look a bit alike.

  • 転職てんしょくを考かんがえないでもないが、まだ決きめていない。

    I have sort of been thinking about changing jobs, but I haven't decided.

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