じゃないか
Isn't it?, Is it not?
Structure
Explanation
In our discussion of じゃない and ではない, we touched upon how adding the particle か can transform these phrases into a question, which is typically informal. This lesson will delve deeper into how this grammatical pattern is used.
While じゃない and ではない are restricted to following nouns or な-Adjectives, じゃないか offers more flexibility. It can be appended to the end of most sentences to form a question, much like adding 'right?' or 'isn't it?' to a statement in English.
- そろそろ雨が降るんじゃないか。Isn't it going to rain soon?
- この鞄は重いんじゃないか。This bag is heavy, isn't it?
- このアプリは便利じゃないか。This app is useful, isn't it?
- 君の部屋は僕のより広いじゃないか。Your room is bigger than mine, isn't it?
For situations where じゃないか is overly informal, ではないか serves as the more formal equivalent. It can sometimes come across as rigid, so it is most appropriate in contexts where a high degree of politeness is necessary.
- これが問題の原因ではないか。This is the cause of the problem, isn't it?
- もっと早く出発した方がいいんではないか。Wouldn't it be better to leave a little earlier?
Examples
試験は今日じゃなかったか。
The test was today, wasn't it?
もうすぐ雨が降るんじゃないか。
It's going to rain soon, isn't it?
あれ、田中さんじゃないか！
Hey, isn't that Mr. Tanaka!?
このバスに乗るんじゃないか？
We're supposed to get on this bus, aren't we?
この映画は面白いんじゃないか？
This movie is pretty interesting, isn't it?
先週、彼に会ったんじゃないか？
You met him last week, didn't you?
ちょっと値段が高いんじゃないか。
The price is a little high, don't you think?
そろそろ寝たほうがいいんじゃないか？
Wouldn't it be better to go to bed soon?
この部屋、けっこう静かじゃないか。
This room is quite peaceful, isn't it?
宿題は明日までだと先生が言っていたじゃないですか。
Didn't the teacher say the homework was due tomorrow?
鍵を忘れたの？もうすぐお店が閉まるんじゃないか？
You forgot your keys? Isn't the store about to close?
彼がチームでいちばん上手じゃないか。どうして試合に出ないんだ？
Isn't he the best player on the team? Why isn't he playing in the match?