〜なくもない

Meaning

Depending on the situation, it might be ~ ;It's not entirely that ~ isn't the case.

A passive way of affirming.

Synonymous with 'ないことはない' (it's not that it doesn't exist).

Formation

Examples

1. 君の提案には賛成できなくもないが、予算を考えると少し難しいかな。
   I might be able to agree with your proposal, but considering the budget, it seems a bit difficult.

2. 6万円かあ。払えなくもないけど、ちょっと高いなあ。
   It's 60,000 yen, huh? I could afford it, but it's a bit expensive.

3. A：Bくん、このシステムの仕様を変えたいんだけど、できる？ B：できなくもないですが、そうなると納期に間に合うかどうか。
   A: B, I'd like to change the specifications of this system. Can you do it? B: It's not impossible, but I'm not sure if we can meet the deadline then.

4. A：お酒はあまり飲まないんですか？ B：飲まなくもないけど、あまり強くないんだ。
   A: Do you not drink much alcohol? B: It's not that I don't drink, but I'm not very good at it.

5. 仕事に不満はないけど、給料は安いし、時には転職を考えなくもない。
   I don't have any complaints about my job, but the salary is low, so sometimes I consider changing jobs.

6. A：ジョンさんって、アメリカの音楽とか聞くの？ B：聞かなくもないですが、どうして？
   A: John, do you listen to American music? B: I do listen to it sometimes, but why?

Summary

• 〜なくもない means "Could be the case depending on the situation; it's not impossible"
• Formation: 動詞 → 動詞 ない + くもない; イ形容詞 → イ形容詞 + くもない; ナ形容詞 → ナ形容詞 でな + くもない; 名詞 → 名詞 でな + くもない
• This is an N1-level grammar pattern