目錄
「嫌いなわけでもない」 can be confusing the first time you see it. 「嫌い」 is followed by another negative element, producing “it is not that I dislike it,” which may leave you even less certain whether the speaker likes or dislikes it. Japanese is not forcing a choice between the two. The sentence merely says that interpreting the current situation directly as “dislike” would be premature; the real reason may come afterward.
「行きたくないわけでもない」 works in the same way. It does not suddenly mean “I really want to go.” It means the speaker has not completely ruled out the desire to go. The timing may be inconvenient, or they may want to consider other options. 「〜わけでもない」 often occupies this in-between position: the preceding description is not entirely wrong, but it is too strong to serve as the final conclusion, so the sentence leaves room without closing off the issue.
How 「〜わけでもない」 Works: Correcting an Overly Strong Inference, Not Completely Negating It
「〜わけでもない」 means “it is not that…,” “I would not exactly say…,” or “you cannot simply conclude that….” It is often used to revise something previously said, another person’s assumption, or a conclusion the speaker has just suggested.
「わけ」 can be understood as a conclusion drawn from the preceding circumstances. 「わけでもない」 denies that this conclusion holds in such a complete or definitive form.
Suppose someone rarely attends social gatherings and is asked whether they dislike lively occasions:
「人付き合いが嫌いなわけでもない。」
This does not mean “I actually love socializing.” It is closer to “It is not that I dislike interacting with people; there is simply another reason.”
- Example: この仕事が嫌いなわけでもない。ただ、今の働き方を少し変えたい。
Kana: このしごとがきらいなわけでもない。ただ、いまのはたらきかたをすこしかえたい。
Translation: It is not that I dislike this job. I just want to change the way I currently work a little.
The first sentence retracts the inference that “wanting a change means disliking the job,” and the second supplies the real reason. - Example: 甘いものが苦手なわけでもないけど、毎日は食べない。
Kana: あまいものがにがてなわけでもないけど、まいにちはたべない。
Translation: It is not that I cannot handle sweets, but I do not eat them every day.
The sentence does not equate “not eating sweets often” with “disliking sweets.” - Example: 別に急いでいるわけでもないので、ゆっくり決めてください。
Kana: べつにいそいでいるわけでもないので、ゆっくりきめてください。
Translation: I am not in any particular hurry, so please take your time deciding.
「別に〜わけでもない」 commonly lowers the degree of the preceding description and is close to “it is not particularly….”
How to Connect 「〜わけでもない」 to Verbs, Adjectives, and Nouns
「〜わけでもない」 generally follows the plain form. Verbs and い-adjectives connect directly, while な-adjectives and nouns use forms such as 「な」「である」 or 「という」 depending on the construction.
| Word type | Pattern | Example |
| Verb | Plain form＋わけでもない | 行くわけでもない |
| Negative verb form | ない-form＋わけでもない | 行きたくないわけでもない |
| い-adjective | Plain form＋わけでもない | 高いわけでもない |
| な-adjective | な＋わけでもない | 特別なわけでもない |
| Noun | という／である＋わけでもない | 冗談というわけでもない |
| Spoken form | 〜わけじゃない | 嫌いなわけじゃない |
In actual conversation, 「〜わけじゃない」 is more common than the full 「〜わけではない」. 「〜わけでもない」 frequently appears in sentences that contain a comparison, qualification, or reservation before or after it.
- Example: 毎週行くわけでもないので、会員にはなっていません。
Kana: まいしゅういくわけでもないので、かいいんにはなっていません。
Translation: I do not go every week, so I have not become a member.
What is negated is the degree of “going regularly every week,” not going there altogether. - Example: 特別に安いわけでもないけど、場所が便利なのでよく使います。
Kana: とくべつにやすいわけでもないけど、ばしょがべんりなのでよくつかいます。
Translation: It is not especially cheap, but I use it often because the location is convenient.
The sentence first plays down the assessment “cheap,” then explains the real reason for choosing it. - Example: 冗談というわけでもないようです。
Kana: じょうだんというわけでもないようです。
Translation: It does not seem to be merely a joke either.
「というわけでもない」 presents “a joke” as one possible explanation, then indicates that this explanation does not fully hold.
Three Common Uses of 「〜わけでもない」: Revising an Inference, Softening a Judgment, and Double Negation
Use 1: Correcting the Inference “So It Must Be This”
An action or result often invites a natural inference about its cause. 「〜わけでもない」 can block that inference and show that the matter is not so simple.
This use often appears with 「ただ」「でも」「けど」 or 「別に」, followed by the real reason or degree.
- Example: 返事が遅いからといって、怒っているわけでもない。
Kana: へんじがおそいからといって、おこっているわけでもない。
Translation: A late reply does not necessarily mean that the person is angry.
“A late reply means anger” is only one possible interpretation, and the sentence retracts it. - Example: 最近あまり外出しないけど、家にいたいわけでもない。
Kana: さいきんあまりがいしゅつしないけど、いえにいたいわけでもない。
Translation: I have not gone out much lately, but it is not that I particularly want to stay home.
The fact that the speaker does not go out is true, but the reason is not necessarily a preference for staying home. - Example: 返信しなかったのは、無視したかったわけでもない。単に忙しかっただけだ。
Kana: へんしんしなかったのは、むししたかったわけでもない。たんにいそがしかっただけだ。
Translation: I did not fail to reply because I wanted to ignore you. I was simply busy.
The second sentence supplies the real reason, making the corrective function of 「わけでもない」 clearer.
Use 2: Showing That Something Does Not Reach That Degree
「〜わけでもない」 is also frequently used to lower the degree of a statement. The preceding description is not wholly wrong; it is simply too strong.
「高いわけでもない」「難しいわけでもない」 and 「特別好きなわけでもない」 all carry this feeling. Something may be somewhat relevant, but not enough to justify a direct conclusion.
- Example: この店は安いわけでもないけど、量を考えると悪くない。
Kana: このみせはやすいわけでもないけど、りょうをかんがえるとわるくない。
Translation: This restaurant is not exactly cheap, but it is not bad when you consider the portions.
The speaker does not directly call it expensive, only indicates that “cheap” does not quite fit. - Example: 日本語が特別上手なわけでもないが、仕事では困らない程度に使える。
Kana: にほんごがとくべつじょうずなわけでもないが、しごとではこまらないていどにつかえる。
Translation: My Japanese is not especially good, but I can use it well enough not to have trouble at work.
The first clause lowers the assessment “very proficient,” and the second states the speaker’s actual ability. - Example: その映画が嫌いなわけでもないけど、もう一度見たいほどではない。
Kana: そのえいががきらいなわけでもないけど、もういちどみたいほどではない。
Translation: I do not dislike that film, but I do not like it enough to want to see it again.
This sentence clearly shows how 「わけでもない」 leaves an intermediate position open.
「〜ないわけでもない」: Not Completely Impossible, but Not an Unreserved Yes
When the preceding expression is already negative and is followed by 「わけでもない」, the result is double negation.
For example, 「行けないわけでもない」 does not mean “I cannot go,” but “it is not that I cannot go.” In more natural English: “I could go, but it would be a little difficult.”
This is not a strong affirmation but a qualified one. The ability, willingness, or possibility exists, but conditions remain.
- Example: 明日なら行けないわけでもないけど、午後のほうが助かります。
Kana: あしたならいけないわけでもないけど、ごごのほうがたすかります。
Translation: I could go tomorrow, but the afternoon would work better for me.
The speaker can go but has not accepted without reservation; a time condition remains. - Example: この金額なら払えないわけでもないが、少し考えたい。
Kana: このきんがくならはらえないわけでもないが、すこしかんがえたい。
Translation: I could pay this amount, but I would like to think about it a little more.
The ability to pay exists, but the speaker does not therefore accept immediately. - Example: 食べたくないわけでもないけど、今はお腹がいっぱい。
Kana: たべたくないわけでもないけど、いまはおなかがいっぱい。
Translation: It is not that I do not want to eat it; I am just full right now.
The food itself is not being rejected; the current circumstances are unsuitable.
「〜わけでもない」 vs 「〜わけではない」: How 「も」 and 「は」 Affect the Nuance
Both patterns can retract the preceding judgment, so both are often translated as “it is not that….” In actual sentences, however, their focus differs slightly. 「〜わけではない」 tends to concentrate on “this explanation is not correct.” 「〜わけでもない」 more readily leads into “but it is not the opposite situation either,” leaving the statement between several alternatives.
| Point of comparison | 「〜わけではない」 | 「〜わけでもない」 |
| Typical meaning | It is not that…; it is not… | It is not exactly…; you cannot quite say… |
| What the sentence does | Selects and negates a possible judgment | Shows that this judgment is not fully suitable and leaves other possibilities open |
| Primary nuance | “This is not the reason/conclusion” | “It is not this, but it may not be the opposite either” |
| Common patterns | 必ずしも〜わけではない／〜からといって〜わけではない | 別に〜わけでもない／AわけでもBわけでもない |
| Representative example | 嫌いなわけではない | 嫌いなわけでもない |
| Approximate sense | I do not dislike it | I would not exactly call it dislike |
Clear Correction vs Leaving Other Possibilities Open
「嫌いなわけではない」 mainly addresses whether the speaker dislikes something, first negating “dislike” and then adding the real reason. 「嫌いなわけでもない」 likewise rejects “dislike,” but 「も」 readily places it alongside other evaluations, making continuations such as “nor do I especially like it” or “I just do not particularly want to go” natural. The two do not have a fixed relationship in which one is always stronger or weaker; the difference is more often revealed by the surrounding context.
「嫌いなわけではない」 generally negates the judgment “dislike” directly.
✅ この仕事が嫌いなわけではない。ただ、別のこともしてみたい。
It is not that I dislike this job. I simply want to try something else too.
This clearly corrects the inference that “wanting to change jobs means disliking the current one.”
「嫌いなわけでもない」 also negates dislike, but often feels more like “I would not go so far as to say I dislike it.”
✅ この料理が嫌いなわけでもないけど、自分から注文することはない。
I do not exactly dislike this dish, but I would not order it myself.
The sentence does not move directly toward “like”; it only shows that “dislike” is too strong a label.
Same Situation: Rarely Visiting a Restaurant
If a person rarely visits a restaurant and is asked whether they dislike it, 「〜わけではない」 directly answers the assumption: “It is not because I dislike it; there is another reason.” With 「〜わけでもない」, the statement does not move quickly toward “like” and can even continue with “nor do I especially like it,” leaving the overall evaluation in the middle.
- Example: この店が嫌いなわけではない。ただ、家から少し遠いだけ。
Kana: このみせがきらいなわけではない。ただ、いえからすこしとおいだけ。
Translation: It is not that I dislike this restaurant. It is simply a little far from home.
「〜わけではない」 directly rejects “rarely going means disliking it,” then gives the real reason. - Example: この店が嫌いなわけでもないけど、特別好きというわけでもない。
Kana: このみせがきらいなわけでもないけど、とくべつすきというわけでもない。
Translation: I do not dislike this restaurant, but I do not especially like it either.
The speaker chooses neither “dislike” nor “like,” a middle position well suited to 「〜わけでもない」.
Differences Among 「〜わけでもない」「〜わけがない」「〜とは限らない」 and 「〜ないことはない」
All four patterns involve negation, but they do very different work. 「〜わけでもない」 retracts a judgment; 「〜わけがない」 declares something impossible; 「〜とは限らない」 removes the assumption that something is always true; and 「〜ないことはない」 uses double negation to move toward “it is actually possible.”
| Point | 「〜わけでもない」 | 「〜わけがない」 | 「〜とは限らない」 | 「〜ないことはない」 |
| Basic meaning | It is not exactly… | There is no way… | It is not necessarily… | It is not impossible… |
| Function | Retracts a judgment | Rules out a possibility | Removes an “always true” assumption | Admits some possibility |
| Nuance | Not completely so | Absolutely impossible | Not true in every case | Possible, but… |
| Direction | Partial negation | Strong negation | Allows exceptions | Weak affirmation |
| Common continuation | ただ, けど, another reason | A reason or strong judgment | An exception, condition, or alternative | けど／が＋a difficult condition |
| Example | 嫌いなわけでもない | 嫌いなわけがない | 高いとは限らない | 行けないことはない |
「〜わけでもない」 vs 「〜わけがない」: Partial vs Strong Negation
「嫌いなわけでもない」 merely shows that “dislike” is not quite an appropriate description and leaves other evaluations open. 「嫌いなわけがない」 is entirely different: the speaker has decided that dislike is impossible. The former can remain between like and dislike, while the latter almost eliminates dislike as a possibility.
❌ Different meaning: 嫌いなわけがない。
There is no way I dislike it.
✅ Partial negation: 嫌いなわけでもない。
I would not exactly say I dislike it.
「わけがない」 cuts off the possibility. 「わけでもない」 only rejects “dislike” as a complete judgment.
「〜わけでもない」 vs 「〜とは限らない」: A Specific Judgment vs a General Possibility
「〜わけでもない」 often concerns a specific case: “I did not choose this product, but not because I thought the quality was poor.” It corrects the reason in this particular instance. 「〜とは限らない」 more often removes an “always” claim: “Expensive products are not necessarily better quality.” Its focus is that exceptions exist and the same rule cannot be applied every time.
「とは限らない」 says that a general rule does not hold 100 percent of the time.
✅ 高いものが必ずしも品質がいいとは限らない。
Expensive things are not necessarily good quality.
「わけでもない」 more often corrects a specific interpretation in the current conversation.
✅ この商品を選ばなかったのは、品質が悪いと思ったわけでもない。
I did not reject this product because I thought its quality was poor.
The former concerns exceptions; the latter concerns the reason in this case.
「〜ないわけでもない」 vs 「〜ないことはない」: Revising a Judgment vs Reluctant Affirmation
「できないわけでもない」 and 「できないことはない」 can both mean “it is not impossible,” and may even be interchangeable in some conversations. 「〜ないわけでもない」 retains the originally proposed judgment “cannot do it,” then says matters do not reach complete impossibility. 「〜ないことはない」 more directly admits “it can be done,” but is usually followed by difficulty, insufficient time, or another condition. Neither should automatically be treated as an unreserved yes.
「行けないわけでもない」 and 「行けないことはない」 can both mean “it is not entirely impossible to go.”
✅ 行けないわけでもないけど、少し遠い。
It is not that I cannot go, but it is a little far.
✅ 行けないことはないけど、少し遠い。
I could go, but it is a little far.
Both retain a condition. 「わけでもない」 more strongly negates the judgment “cannot go,” while 「ないことはない」 more directly expresses the minimum possibility.
Same Work Request with Four Different Patterns
When asked whether a document can be completed by tomorrow, the four patterns place the answer in very different positions. 「〜ないわけでもない」 and 「〜ないことはない」 preserve the possibility of completion despite many conditions. 「〜わけがない」 declares it impossible. 「〜とは限らない」 does not say it definitely cannot be done, but does not guarantee completion. Although all may look negative in translation, their differences become much clearer in one shared situation.
- Example: 明日までにできないわけでもないですが、ほかの作業を少し後ろにずらす必要があります。
Kana: あしたまでにできないわけでもないですが、ほかのさぎょうをすこしうしろにずらすひつようがあります。
Translation: It is not impossible to finish by tomorrow, but I will need to push some other work back.
The judgment “cannot do it” does not fully hold; completion remains possible if other conditions are adjusted. - Example: この量を明日までに全部終わらせられるわけがありません。
Kana: このりょうをあしたまでにぜんぶおわらせられるわけがありません。
Translation: There is no way to finish all this by tomorrow.
「〜わけがない」 leaves little room for discussion: the workload makes completion by tomorrow impossible. - Example: 今日順調に進んでも、明日までに終わるとは限りません。
Kana: きょうじゅんちょうにすすんでも、あしたまでにおわるとはかぎりません。
Translation: Even if things go smoothly today, it does not necessarily mean we will finish by tomorrow.
「〜とは限らない」 does not predict certain failure; it only says that smooth progress today does not guarantee completion tomorrow. - Example: 明日までにできないことはないですが、かなり急ぐ必要があります。
Kana: あしたまでにできないことはないですが、かなりいそぐひつようがあります。
Translation: We can finish by tomorrow, but we will have to hurry considerably.
「〜ないことはない」 first admits that it can be done, then adds the practical condition, so it still does not sound like an easy acceptance.
Natural Uses of 「〜わけでもない」 in Social, Travel, and Work Conversations
「〜わけでもない」 is useful in conversations that require correcting a misunderstanding. It does not force the speaker’s position immediately toward the opposite, so intermediate states such as “I do not dislike it, but I do not especially like it” or “it is not that I have no time; I just do not want to decide now” are common.
Scenario 1: A Friend Asks Whether You Dislike Social Gatherings
A: 最近、飲み会に来ないけど、こういう集まりが苦手なの？
さいきん、のみかいにこないけど、こういうあつまりがにがてなの？
You have not come to our recent get-togethers. Do you dislike gatherings like these?
B: 苦手なわけでもないよ。最近ちょっと忙しいだけ。
にがてなわけでもないよ。さいきんちょっといそがしいだけ。
It is not that I dislike them. I have just been a little busy lately.
📌 Grammar point: 「苦手」 is not necessarily a completely misguided possibility, but the speaker does not accept it as the main reason and uses 「わけでもない」 to correct it.
Scenario 2: Discussing a Restaurant While Traveling
A: あの店、行きたくない？
あのみせ、いきたくない？
Do you not want to go to that restaurant?
B: 行きたくないわけでもないけど、今日は別の店も見てみたい。
いきたくないわけでもないけど、きょうはべつのみせもみてみたい。
It is not that I do not want to go, but I would like to look at another restaurant today too.
📌 Grammar point: 「行きたくないわけでもない」 is double negation. The desire to go remains, but other options are currently under consideration.
Scenario 3: Discussing Whether You Can Take On a New Assignment
A: この案件、今週中は難しそうですか。
このあんけん、こんしゅうちゅうはむずかしそうですか。
Does it look difficult to handle this assignment by the end of the week?
B: できないわけでもないですが、ほかの案件との調整が必要です。
できないわけでもないですが、ほかのあんけんとのちょうせいがひつようです。
It is not impossible, but I need to coordinate it with my other assignments.
📌 Grammar point: 「できないわけでもない」 is not an unreserved yes. It says that the work is feasible but conditions remain.
Cultural notes:
- 「〜わけでもない」 often appears where another person’s inference needs correction. Japanese does not require the speaker to move directly from “I do not dislike it” to “I like it”; an intermediate position can remain.
- 「別に〜わけでもない」 is a common combination, as in 「別に怒っているわけでもない」. Here 「別に」 works with the negative to mean “not particularly to that extent.”
- The affirmation created by 「〜ないわけでもない」 is usually weak. If someone responds to a work request or schedule with 「できないわけでもない」, the listener normally still needs to confirm the conditions and should not treat it as complete agreement.
Understanding 「〜わけでもない」 Through Korean 「-는 것은 아니다」
Korean 「-는 것은 아니다」 can also negate a conclusion that has been pushed too far and is often translated as “it is not that….” Like Japanese 「〜わけでもない」, it does not necessarily overturn the preceding point completely, but can indicate that other conditions apply.
To convey a clearer sense of “not necessarily” or “not completely” in Korean, adverbs such as 「꼭」「반드시」 and 「전혀」 are also used to adjust the degree.
- Example: 그 일을 싫어하는 것은 아니에요. 그냥 다른 일도 해 보고 싶어요.
Romanization: geu-i-reul si-reo-ha-neun geo-seun a-ni-e-yo. geu-nyang da-reun il-do hae bo-go si-peo-yo.
Translation: It is not that I dislike that job. I just want to try other work too.
The Korean denies that dislike is the only reason, then supplies the speaker’s actual thought. - Example: 내일까지 못 하는 것은 아니지만 시간이 좀 필요해요.
Romanization: nae-il-kka-ji mot ha-neun geo-seun a-ni-ji-man si-gan-i jom pi-ryo-hae-yo.
Translation: It is not impossible to do it by tomorrow, but I need some time.
The task is not beyond the speaker’s ability, but a condition remains. - Example: 딱히 좋아하는 것은 아니지만 싫지도 않아요.
Romanization: tta-ki jo-a-ha-neun geo-seun a-ni-ji-man sil-chi-do a-na-yo.
Translation: I do not particularly like it, but I do not dislike it either.
Korean 「딱히」 lowers the degree and is close to Japanese 「別に／特別〜わけでもない」.
◆ Core difference from 「〜わけでもない」:
Korean 「-는 것은 아니다」 has a broad range and can directly negate an interpretation or judgment. In addition to correcting an inference, Japanese 「〜わけでもない」 often uses 「も」 to add the reserved sense “it is not particularly or entirely so.” Translation should therefore not rely on word-for-word matching; first determine whether the sentence denies the fact itself or an overextended conclusion.
The difficult part of 「〜わけでもない」 is not choosing between English phrases such as “not exactly” and “it is not that,” but recognizing that the sentence is not trying to give the opposite answer immediately. 「嫌いなわけでもない」 does not equal “like,” and 「できないわけでもない」 does not equal a promise that something can definitely be done. The preceding judgment has merely been pulled back, while reasons, conditions, or other possibilities usually remain.
When you encounter the pattern, it is faster to look at the surrounding context than to count layers of negation. What interpretation was made before it, and what information is added afterward? 「〜わけでもない」 loosens a conclusion drawn too quickly. Everyday meanings such as “I do not dislike it that much” and “it is not impossible to go, but the timing is inconvenient” occupy precisely this position.
FAQs
It expresses partial negation, with meanings such as “it is not exactly that…” or “you cannot simply understand it as….” It commonly corrects an overly strong inference and does not mean that the complete opposite of the preceding statement must be true.
Their basic functions are very close, and both express partial negation. 「〜わけではない」 tends to correct a conclusion more directly, while 「〜わけでもない」 more readily carries a reserved “not exactly” nuance. They are not two completely unrelated grammar patterns.
No. It only indicates that “dislike” is too strong a judgment; it does not make the opposite judgment “like” necessarily true. The speaker may feel neutral or have another reason.
「できない」 is already negative, and 「わけでもない」 negates that judgment again, creating double negation. The whole phrase is close to “it is not impossible,” usually indicating that ability or possibility exists but conditions remain.
「〜わけでもない」 is partial negation and leaves other possibilities open. 「〜わけがない」 is strong negation meaning “there is no way….” Thus 「嫌いなわけでもない」 means “I would not exactly say I dislike it,” whereas 「嫌いなわけがない」 means “there is no way I dislike it.”