JLPT N1

〜de nakute nandarou

A strong rhetorical question: 'If not X, then what is it?'

Formation

Explanation

「Noun + でなくてなんだろう」expresses the speaker’s strong conviction that something must be that noun - no other possibility. Literally, 'If it isn't Noun, then what is it?'

Example sentences

  • If this isn’t the truth, then what is?

    Kore ga shinjitsu de nakute nandarou.

  • If he isn’t the leader, then who is?

    Kare ga riidaa de nakute nandarou.

  • If this isn’t love, then what is?

    Kore ga ai de nakute nandarou.

  • If this isn’t the best restaurant, then what is?

    Kore ga saikou no resutoran de nakute nandarou.