Japanese Grammar: ではないか (de wa nai ka) – Isn’t it? / Let’s…

Japanese Grammar: ではないか (de wa nai ka) – Isn’t it? / Let’s…
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

‘Isn’t it?’, ‘Shall we?’, or ‘I wonder if…’

🎯 Primary Function

To ask a rhetorical question, express an opinion, or make a formal suggestion.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Plain form/Volitional) + ではないか
I-adjective (Plain form) + ではないか
Na-adjective (Stem) + ではないか
Verb (Negative plain) + ではないか

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in speeches, debates, or by characters in positions of authority.

😊 Informal Situations

Rarely used in casual speech; ‘jyanai ka’ is preferred instead.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in essays, editorials, and literature to engage the reader.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Often sounds masculine or authoritative when used in spoken form.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Opinion
Used to strongly state one’s opinion or emphasize a point.
Example: いいではないか (Isn’t it good?)
Making Suggestions
When used with the volitional form, it acts as a formal or powerful call to action.
Example: 行こうではないか (Let’s go, shall we?)
Expressing Surprise/Confirmation
Used when the speaker notices something they didn’t expect or wants to confirm a fact.
Example: できているではないか (Look, it’s already done!)
📊
Frequency
Common in literature, speeches, and formal discussions.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4/N3
Example Sentences
Example #1
これはすばらしいアイデアではないか。
Furigana: これ は すばらしい アイデア ではない か。
Romaji: Kore wa subarashii aidea de wa nai ka.
English: Isn’t this a wonderful idea?
Example #2
もう一度考えてみようではないか。
Furigana: もう いちど かんがえて みよう ではない か。
Romaji: Mou ichido kangaete miyou de wa nai ka.
English: Let’s try to think about it once more, shall we?
Example #3
彼は犯人ではないかと思う。
Furigana: かれ は はんにん ではない か と おもう。
Romaji: Kare wa hannin de wa nai ka to omou.
English: I suspect that he might be the culprit.
Example #4
道が混んでいるのではないか。
Furigana: みち が こんでいる の ではない か。
Romaji: Michi ga konde iru no de wa nai ka.
English: I wonder if the roads are crowded.
Example #5
そんなに怒ることはないではないか。
Furigana: そんなに おこる こと は ない ではない か。
Romaji: Sonna ni okoru koto wa nai de wa nai ka.
English: There’s no need to get that angry, is there?
Example #6
彼女はとても親切ではないか。
Furigana: かのじょ は とても しんせつ ではない か。
Romaji: Kanojo wa totemo shinsetsu de wa nai ka.
English: Isn’t she actually very kind?
Example #7
解決策が見つかったではないか。
Furigana: かいけつさく が みつかった ではない か。
Romaji: Kaiketsusaku ga mitsukatta de wa nai ka.
English: Look, a solution has been found after all!
Example #8
この本は面白いではないか。
Furigana: この ほん は おもしろい ではない か。
Romaji: Kono hon wa omoshiroi de wa nai ka.
English: This book is quite interesting, don’t you think?
Example #9
みんなで協力しようではないか。
Furigana: みんな で きょうりょく しよう ではない か。
Romaji: Minna de kyouryoku shiyou de wa nai ka.
English: Let’s all cooperate to solve this.
Example #10
失敗してもいいではないか。
Furigana: しっぱい しても いい ではない か。
Romaji: Shippai shitemo ii de wa nai ka.
English: It’s okay even if we fail, right?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Rhetorical Call to Action
When used with the volitional form (V-ou), it creates a very strong, encouraging ‘Let’s…’ sentiment.
Example: 頑張ろうではないか!
Difference with ‘No de wa nai ka’
The addition of ‘no’ makes the statement a softer speculation about a possibility.
Example: 彼は来ないのではないか。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using ‘de wa nai ka’ in a casual conversation with friends.
✅ じゃないか (janai ka)
‘De wa nai ka’ sounds very stiff and literary for a casual chat with friends.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Formal/Literary. It is more polite than ‘janai ka’ but can sound assertive.
Social Situations: Used by older males or people in authority to express opinions or encourage others.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; no major regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ではないか vs. じゃないか
‘De wa nai ka’ is formal/written; ‘Janai ka’ is colloquial/spoken.
When to use: Use ‘De wa nai ka’ in writing or formal speeches.
ではないか vs. ではないでしょうか
‘De wa nai deshou ka’ is much more polite and less assertive.
When to use: Use ‘deshou ka’ when you want to be humble and polite.

📝 Conjugation Notes

When following a Noun or Na-adjective, ‘da’ is replaced by ‘de wa nai ka’. For Verbs and I-adjectives, it follows the plain form directly.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘ka’ at the end often has a falling intonation when it’s a rhetorical statement, rather than a rising intonation used for standard questions.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as the formal ‘stiff’ version of ‘janai ka’. If you want to sound like a protagonist in a historical drama or an orator, use ‘de wa nai ka’.

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