JLPT N1 grammar

〜でなくてなんだろうmeaning and usage

Meaning

It's definitely A (and not something else)

How to form it

  • nounでなくてなんだろう
  • nounでなくてなんであろう

How it is used

A written rhetorical question, 'if this isn't A, what is?', asserting with strong feeling that it is precisely A. A is often an abstract noun like 「愛」, 「運命」 or 「奇跡」. Found in essays and speeches; rare in conversation.

Examples

  1. こんなに頭が痛くて、病気でなくてなんだろう。

    My head hurts so much I must be sick.

  2. 十年ぶりに旅先で再会するなんて、これが運命でなくてなんだろう。

    Meeting again on a trip after ten years: if that isn't fate, what is?

  3. 毎朝欠かさず子どもの弁当を作る。それが愛情でなくてなんだろう。

    Making the children's lunch every morning without fail: what is that, if not love?