なくはない

It's not that…, Kind of, might, Slightly, Somewhat, In some respects

その距離きょりだったら、頑張がんばれば走はしれなくはない。

If it was that distance, it would be hard work, but I may be able to run that.

Explanation

「なくはない」 is a double negative meaning 'it's not that it isn't, it's not impossible'. The speaker avoids a flat statement and sounds soft and reserved, often reluctant or hesitant: 「行けなくはない」 (I could go, I suppose, though I don't really want to). It can be swapped with 「なくもない」. It follows the ない form of a verb, the く form of an i-adjective, na-adjective＋では, or noun＋が.

Mixed up with

「なくはない」: a weak yes, often for feelings or judgements: 「美味しくなくはない」 (It's not bad, but not great either).

「ないこともない」: leans on a condition: 「頼まれれば、行かないこともない」 (If asked, I might go).

「ないことはない」: a general admission, 'in principle it's not impossible'.

Examples

別べつに出来できなくはないけど、めんどくさいから業者ぎょうしゃに頼たのむわ。
It's not that I can't do it, but since it is too much of a hassle, I'm going to hire someone to do it.
かなり固かたい木きだが、このカンナで削けずれなくはない。
The tree is quite hard, but it's not that it can't be planed with this wood planer.
貯金ちょきんすれば買かえなくはない。
If I save up, I could buy it.
納豆なっとうは食たべられなくはないけど、どうせ食たべるならもっと美味おいしいものを食たべたいかな。
I can eat natto, I suppose, but if I'm going to eat something I'd rather have something tastier.
それを買かうお金かねがなくはないが、そんなくだらないことにお金かねを使つかいたくない。
It's not that I don't have money to buy that, but that I don't want to spend my money on something so stupid.
時間じかんはなくはないんですが、もっと時間じかんを有効ゆうこうに使つかいたいだけです。
It's not that I don't have time, but that I just want to make better use of my time.
家いえにテレビがなくはないけど、アンテナがつながっていないからモニターとして使つかってる。
It's not that I don't have a TV at home, but since the antenna is not connected, I am using it as a monitor.
難むずかしそうだが、自分じぶんで組くみ立たてられなくはない。
It looks difficult, but it's not that you can't put it together yourself.
その意見いけんを考かんがえた上うえで、賛成さんせいできなくはない。
Having thought that opinion over, I could agree with it, I suppose.
原理げんりは分わからなくはないが、すべてを理解りかいするのは難むずかしい。
It's not that I don't understand the principle, but comprehending it entirely is difficult.
心当こころあたりはなくはないのですが、証拠しょうこがありません。
It's not that I have no idea, but there's no proof.
集中しゅうちゅうできなくはないが、この騒さわがしさでは長ながくは続つづかない。
It's not that I can't concentrate, but I can't keep it up for long with this noise.
コレクションの中なかになくはないが、君きみにあげる気きにはなれない。
I do have one in my collection, but I don't feel like giving it to you.
捜さがせばなくはないと思おもうが、捜さがすのが大変たいへんすぎる。
I think we could find it if we looked, but looking would be far too much work.
見学けんがくできなくはないのですが、特定とくていの人ひとしか許可きょかしてもらえません。
It's not that you can't take a tour, but only specific people can get permission.
これまでもかなり試行しこう錯誤さくごしてきましたが、もっと工夫くふうできなくはないです。
We've already done a lot of trial and error, but there is still room to improve.
僕ぼくの顕微鏡けんびきょうでも見みえなくはないが、もっといい顕微鏡けんびきょうがほしい。
It's not that I can't see with my microscope, but I want an even better microscope.

なくはない

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested 2 times in past papers