ないとも限らない
ないともかぎらないnai to mo kagiranaineutral
Same meaning19
probably; might; should be
- だろうprobably; I suppose (plain style)attaches at
- でしょうprobably; I suppose; right?attaches at
- はずだshould; ought to; is supposed toattaches at
- かもしれないmight; may possiblyattaches at
- かなI wonder; maybe (wondering aloud)attaches at
- かねないcould well (and it wouldn't be good); there's a real chance thatattaches at
- まいsurely won't; I shall never — the classical negative of だろう and of (よ)うattaches at
- に違いないmust be; surely is (a confident conclusion)attaches at
- に決まっているof course it is; is bound to be — treated as beyond argumentattaches at
- に相違ないbeyond doubt; there is no doubt that (written, formal)attaches at
- 恐れがあるthere is a danger that; is at risk of (something unwelcome)attaches at
- そうもないshows no sign of; doesn't look like it willattaches at
- と考えられるit can reasonably be concluded that; is to be regarded asattaches at
- と思うI think that; in my opinionattaches at
- ような気がするI have a feeling that; it seems to me thatattaches at
not necessarily; not always
All examples3
you can't rule out it happening — reopens what looked impossible
午後から雨が降らないとも限らないので、傘を持って行こう。
gogo kara ame ga furanai to mo kagiranai node, kasa o motte ikou.
You can't rule out rain this afternoon, so let's take an umbrella. neutral
同じミスをまたやらないとも限らないから、手順をメモしとこう。
onaji misu o mata yaranai to mo kagiranai kara, tejun o memo shitokou.
I might well make the same mistake again, so let me jot the steps down. casual
大きな地震が起きないとも限りませんので、日頃の備えをお願いいたします。
ooki na jishin ga okinai to mo kagirimasen node, higoro no sonae o onegai itashimasu.
A major earthquake cannot be ruled out, so please keep your everyday preparations in order. formal
How it's formed1
All forms2
- pastないとも限らなかったnaitomokagiranakatta
味わわないとも限らなかった
- politeないとも限りませんnaitomokagirimasen
味わわないとも限りません
Notes
The outcome is the opposite of the ない in it (起きないとも限らない may well
happen). It's usually followed by から/ので and a warning.
happen). It's usually followed by から/ので and a warning.