Meaning & usage
あながち～ない expresses that something is not completely wrong or baseless, and is used to partly accept a claim, criticism, or rumor that might seem false. It appears as あながち before an adjective, noun plus ではない, or verb in the negative, as in あながち間違っていない or あながちうそではない. The negative ending is required, so it cannot be used in an affirmative sentence, and the tone is formal and often found in writing.
Example sentences 8
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彼の言うことはあながち間違っていない。
He is not altogether wrong.
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トムの主張もあながち見当外れではない気がする。
I have a feeling Tom's claim isn't entirely wrong.
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そのうわさはあながちうそではない。
That rumor is not necessarily false.
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彼の予想はあながち外れていない。
His prediction is not entirely off the mark.
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君の批判もあながち無理はない。
Your criticism is not entirely unreasonable.
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この意見もあながち間違いではない。
This opinion is not necessarily wrong.
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彼女の心配はあながち大げさではない。
Her worry is not necessarily exaggerated.
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この方法はあながち効果がないとは言えない。
You cannot say this method is entirely without effect.
