でなくてなんだろう
If … is not … then what is?
Structure
(1)であろう
Explanation
The phrase でなくてなんだろう is a formal expression used after nouns to emphatically state that something must be true. It poses a rhetorical question, best translated as 'if it's not (A), then what else could it be?'. This grammar pattern is formed by combining the conjunctive form of the auxiliary verb だ (で), the conjunctive form of the い-Adjective ない (なくて), the prefix なん ('what'), and the volitional form of だ (だろう). The literal breakdown closely matches its common usage.
- 彼は夢のために、時間もお金も全部使った。これが情熱でなくてなんだろう。He used all his time and money for his dream. If that's not passion, then what is?
- 親友は、私が困っている時、いつでも助けてくれる。これが本当の友情でなくてなんだろう。My best friend always helps me whenever I'm in trouble. If this isn't true friendship, then what is?
The sentence-ending particle か can be appended to this phrase. Adding か serves to intensify the speaker's assertion, but does not alter the core meaning.
- あの事故で、乗客全員が無事だった。これが幸運でなくてなんだろうか。Everyone on board was safe in that accident. If this isn't good fortune, then what is?
- 毎日三時間しか寝ないで勉強した。これが努力でなくてなんだろうか。I studied every day, getting only three hours of sleep. If that's not hard work, then what is?
でなくてなんだろう is primarily used to pose a rhetorical question, functioning as a powerful way for the speaker to declare their conviction about a particular matter.
Examples
親友だと思っていた人に秘密を全部ばらされた。これが裏切りでなくてなんだろう。
The person I thought was my best friend revealed all my secrets. If this isn't betrayal, then what is?
山の頂上から見た朝焼けの美しさ。これが絶景でなくてなんだろうか。
The beauty of the sunrise seen from the mountaintop... If this isn't a breathtaking view, then what is?
どんなに説明しても彼は意見を変えない。これは無駄な努力でなくてなんだろう。
No matter how much I explain, he won't change his opinion. If this isn't a wasted effort, then what is?
たった一枚買った宝くじが当たった。これが幸運でなくてなんだろう。
The single lottery ticket I bought turned out to be a winner. If this isn't good fortune, then what is?
燃え盛る家の中に飛び込んで子供を助け出したあの消防士が英雄でなくてなんだろう。
That firefighter jumped into a burning house to rescue a child. If he isn't a hero, then what is?
上司のミスなのに、全部私のせいにされた。これが理不尽でなくてなんだろう。
It was my boss's mistake, but I got blamed for all of it. If this isn't completely unreasonable, then what is?
レビュー：「この一本の木から彫り出されたとは思えないほど細かい。これが芸術でなくてなんだろう？」
Review: 'It's so detailed you wouldn't think it was carved from a single piece of wood. If this isn't art, then what is?'
子供の学費のために、昼も夜も働く母親の姿。これが親子愛でなくてなんだろうか。
A mother working day and night to pay for her child's tuition... If that isn't a parent's love, then what is?
ドキュメンタリー：「たった一つの決断が戦争の結果を大きく変えた。これが歴史の転換点でなくてなんだろう。」
Documentary: 'A single decision drastically changed the outcome of the war. If this isn't a turning point in history, then what is?'
日記：「あの時、あんな些細なことで親と大喧嘩して家を飛び出した。これが若気の至りでなくてなんだろう。」
Diary: 'Back then, I stormed out of the house after a huge fight with my parents over something so trivial. If that isn't a youthful mistake, then what is?'
ニュース：「彼は無実の罪で１０年間も刑務所にいた。これが冤罪でなくてなんだろう。」
News: 'He was in prison for 10 years for a crime he didn't commit. If this isn't a miscarriage of justice, then what is?'
小説：「昨日まで普通に話していた隣人が、何の痕跡も残さず消えてしまった。これが神隠しでなくてなんだろうか。」
Novel: 'My neighbor, who I was talking with just yesterday, has vanished without a trace. If this isn't a mysterious disappearance, then what is?'