Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
ないことはない uses a double negative to admit that something is in fact the case, often softening it with a follow-up like but his blood pressure is a bit high. わけではない directly denies an implication or assumption, saying it is not that X is true. The test is whether you are confirming a negative question (元気じゃないことはない) or rejecting someone's inference (そういうわけではない). Swapping them sounds odd because ないことはない affirms while わけではない denies.
- ないことも / はない Use ないことはない when you confirm a negative question by admitting the positive, then add a reservation.
- わけではない Use わけではない when you deny an implied meaning or assumption that someone has drawn.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ないことも / はない naikotomo hanai | It's not that... not | N3 |
| わけではない wakedehanai | It's not that/Not necessarily | N3 |
ないことも / はない naikotomo hanai
It's not that... not
It isn't the case that ~ not ~; it is not that ~ not ~ | A double negative phrase used to make a conditional affirmative statement.
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A: お父さんはお元気じゃないんですか。B: いや、元気じゃないことはないんですが、血圧が少し高いようです。
A: Isn't your father in good health? B: Yes, he is healthy, but his blood pressure is a bit high.
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A: この辺は夏涼しくないんですか。B: いや、涼しくないこともないんですが、時々ひどく暑くなります。
A: Isn't it cool around here during the summer? B: Yes, it is cool, but sometimes it gets terribly hot.
わけではない wakedehanai
It's not that/Not necessarily
It does not mean that ~; I don't mean that ~; it is not that ~; it is not true that ~; it is not the case that | A phrase which is used to deny what is implied in the previous or following statement.
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A：この病人は全く助からないんですか。B：いや、そういうわけではありません。
A: Can this patient not be saved at all? B: No, it is not that he can't be saved.
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あの人が嫌いだというわけではないんですが、結婚したいとは思いません。
I don't mean that I don't like him, but I do not want to marry him.
ないことも / はない and わけではない are both JLPT N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.