Explanation

ないものか (nai mono ka) is a phrase used to express a strong desire or hope for something to happen or exist. It is often translated as 'I wish', 'if only', or 'why cannot'.

Personalized Lesson For You!

Key Formation

• Verb (negative form) + ものか

  行かないものか (I wish/I hope I could go)

• い-Adjective (negative form) + ものか

  寒くないものか (I wish/I hope it would not get cold)

• な-Adjective (negative form) + ものか

  静かじゃないものか (I wish/I hope it would not be noisy)

• Noun (negative form) + できないものか

  時間がないものか (I wish/I hope I had more time)

Example Sentences

• もう少し早く帰宅できないものか。

  I wish I could go home a little earlier.

  もうすこしはやくきたくできないものか。

  Mou sukoshi hayaku kitaku dekinai mono ka.

  Pronunciation

• もっと時間があればいいのに。もう少し休めないものか。 (Inspired by everyday conversations.)

  If only I had more time. I wish I could rest a little longer.

  もっとじかんがあればいいのに。もうすこしやすめないものか。

  Motto jikan ga areba ii noni. Mou sukoshi yasumenai mono ka.

  Pronunciation

• もっとお金があれば、世界中を旅できないものか。 (Inspired by personal desire for travel.)

  If only I had more money, I wish I could travel around the world.

  もっとおかねがあれば、せかいじゅうをたびできないものか。

  Motto okane ga areba, sekaijuu o tabi dekinai mono ka.

  Pronunciation

• もっと人々が互いを理解し合える社会があればいいのに。ないものかな。 (Inspired by societal hopes.)

  If only there was a society where people could understand each other more. I wonder if it exists.

  もっとひとびとがたがいをりかいしあえるしゃかいがあればいいのに。ないものかな。

  Motto hitobito ga tagai o rikai shiaeru shakai ga areba ii noni. Nai mono ka na.

  Pronunciation

• これをもっと簡単に解決できないものか。

  I wish I could solve this more easily.

  これをもっとかんたんにかいけつできないものか。

  Kore o motto kantan ni kaiketsu dekinai mono ka.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• なかなか (nakanaka) - (N2 - N1)
  - Both ないものか (nai mono ka) and なかなか (nakanaka) express a desire for a change or achievement. However, ないものか (nai mono ka) is more focused on expressing hope and desire, while なかなか (nakanaka) implies the difficulty or inability to achieve something.
• 〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) - (N1)
  - ないものか (nai mono ka) and 〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) both express a desire for an ideal situation. However, 〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) implies the notion of 'nothing surpasses' or 'nothing is better than' while ないものか (nai mono ka) expresses a stronger desire.
• 〜べきではない (beki dewa nai) - (N1)
  - ないものか (nai mono ka) and 〜べきではない (beki dewa nai) both express personal opinions or desires. However, 〜べきではない (beki dewa nai) conveys the sense of 'should not' or 'ought not to', while ないものか (nai mono ka) focuses on expressing a strong desire or hope.
• 〜ことなく (koto naku) - (N1)
  - Both ないものか (nai mono ka) and 〜ことなく (koto naku) express a desire or hope not to do something. However, 〜ことなく (koto naku) implies not performing an action, while ないものか (nai mono ka) expresses a desire for something to happen or exist.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 帰宅 (きたく)returning homePronunciation
• * もう少し (もうすこし)a little morePronunciation
• * 時間 (じかん)timePronunciation
• * お金 (おかね)moneyPronunciation
• * 世界中 (せかいじゅう)around the worldPronunciation
• * 人々 (ひとびと)peoplePronunciation
• * 互い (たがい)each otherPronunciation
• * 理解 (りかい)understandingPronunciation
• * 社会 (しゃかい)societyPronunciation
• * 簡単 (かんたん)easy; simplePronunciation
• * 解決 (かいけつ)solution; resolutionPronunciation

Quiz

Which of the following is the closest translation for 'ないものか'?

• Let's do our best.
• I wish/I hope.
• Don't give up.