JLPT N1・N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜ないでもない” and “〜までもない”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜ないでもない” and “〜までもない”
2. 〜ないでもない
3. 〜までもない
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “〜ないでもない” and “〜までもない”?

A: Both of these grammar points include “ない,” but “〜ないでもない” expresses a reserved affirmation, while “〜までもない” indicates low necessity or value. Let’s take a look at each of them.

〜ないでもない (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
It’s not 100% that way

[Rule]
[V] Verb negative form＋でもない

[Examples]
実じつはお酒さけは飲のめないでもないんですよ。
I can drink alcohol, but it’s not something I usually do.

小説しょうせつは読よまないでもないけど、読よんでいるとすぐに眠ねむくなってしまいます。
I don’t avoid reading novels, but I quickly get sleepy whenever I do.

A「この時計とけいはもう直なおせないかな。」
B「うーん、直なおせないでもないと思おもう。ちょっとやってみよう。」
A: “Do you think this watch can’t be fixed anymore?”
B: “Hmm, I don’t think it’s completely impossible. Let me give it a try.”

〜までもない (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
There’s no need to do ~
It’s not worth doing ~

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form＋までもない

[Examples]
こんな子供こどもでも分わかること、説明せつめいするまでもないですよ。
Even a child can understand this, so there’s no need to explain it.

この作家さっかの小説しょうせつは本当ほんとうにつまらなかった。お金かねを払はらって読よむまでもない。
This author’s novel was boring. It’s not worth paying to read.

少すこし疲つかれているだけだから病院びょういんに行いって診みてもらうまでもない。
I’m just a little tired, so there’s no need to go to the hospital and get checked.

Let’s Compare

[ないでもない]

Using a double negative results in an affirmative outcome, but it becomes a reserved or hesitant affirmation, avoiding a definitive statement. It is often used to express personal judgment or speculation, meaning “in some cases, it may happen” or “depending on the conditions, it could be possible.”

[Examples]
お酒さけは飲のめないでもないんですが、飲のんでもビール一いっ杯ぱいぐらいですね。
I can drink alcohol, but even if I do, it’s just about one glass of beer.
⇒ This means that I’m not completely unable to drink alcohol; I can drink “a little.”

忙いそがしいけど、1時間じかんぐらいなら会議かいぎできないでもないから、会議かいぎ室しつを予約よやくしておこう。
I’m busy, but I could manage a meeting for about an hour, so let’s go ahead and reserve the meeting room.
⇒ This suggests that I’m not saying 100% that a meeting can’t be held, but I speculate that at least an hour is possible.

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[までもない]

This is not about “not needing to do something” like “〜なくてもいい,” but rather it is used when you want to express the low degree or importance of something, or when another action can sufficiently handle the situation.

[Examples]
こんな簡単かんたんで子供こどもでも分わかるようなこと、説明せつめいするまでもないでしょ。
This is so simple that even a child can understand it, so there’s no need to explain, right?
⇒ It’s so simple that there’s no need to explain.
　
歩あるけるんだしわざわざ救急きゅうきゅう車しゃを呼よぶまでもないです。
You can walk, so there’s no need to go out of your way to call an ambulance.
⇒ It conveys that walking is sufficient, so there’s no need to call an ambulance (you can make it to the hospital).

Summary

[〜ないでもない]

• A reserved affirmation to avoid making a definitive statement.
• It indicates that “in some cases, it may be done” or “depending on the conditions, it is possible,” based on personal judgment or speculation.

[〜までもない]

• Used to express “the low degree or importance of something” or that “the matter can be sufficiently dealt with by other actions.”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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