“〜ja nai desu ka / dewa nai desu ka”: Confirmation, Rhetorical Question, Exclamation [JLPT N5]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「これ、美味しいじゃないですか」「知ってるじゃないですか」 — three tones in one go.
“〜ja nai desu ka / dewa nai desu ka”: Confirmation, Rhetorical Question, Exclamation
「〜じゃないですか/ではないですか」 literally is a negative question, but actually has three tones: ① confirmation ‘〜, right?' — seeking the listener's agreement (これでいいじゃないですか = this is fine, right?); ② rhetorical question ‘isn't it 〜?' — with a reminder, reproach (もう知っているじゃないですか = you already know, don't you?); ③ exclamation ‘it's really 〜!' — rising intonation for delight (これ、安いじゃないですか! = this is so cheap!). ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adjective plain form ＋ じゃないですか; noun/な-adjective ＋ (directly) ＋ じゃないですか (元気じゃないですか)! ⚠️ Judge by intonation/context: rising ＋ delight = exclamation; with a reminder = rhetorical; seeking agreement = confirmation. ⚠️ 「じゃない」 is the colloquial contraction of 「ではない」.
🧠 Core nuance: a negative question in form, but actually confirmation/rhetorical/exclamation
The core is in form a negative question (〜じゃない?), but actually expressing confirmation, a rhetorical question, or an exclamation, judged by intonation and context: ① confirmation ‘〜, right?, isn't it 〜?' — seeking the listener's agreement, confirmation (これでいいじゃないですか = this is fine, right?, 明日休みじゃないですか = isn't tomorrow a day off?); the tone wants the listener's ‘yeah' response. ② rhetorical question ‘(you) … , don't you?' — with a reminder, reproach, dissatisfaction, reminding of a fact (もう知っているじゃないですか = you already know, don't you?, さっき言ったじゃないですか = I just said it, didn't I?); often with an ‘even though …' tone. ③ exclamation ‘it's really 〜!' — rising intonation, expressing delight, discovery (これ、安いじゃないですか! = this is so cheap!, 上手じゃないですか! = you're quite good!); voicing the ‘I didn't expect it this …' feeling. ⚠️ Core: the three tones are distinguished by intonation and context — seeking agreement = confirmation; with a reminder/reproach = rhetorical; rising intonation ＋ delight = exclamation. ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adjective plain form ＋ じゃないですか (知っているじゃないですか, 安いじゃないですか); noun/な-adjective ＋ じゃないですか (directly, 元気じゃないですか, 休みじゃないですか)! ⚠️ 「じゃない」 is the colloquial contraction of 「ではない」 (ではないですか is more formal). ⚠️ More casually you can say 「〜じゃん」 (これ安いじゃん = this is cheap). A common N5 colloquial expression.
📌 Three Tones/Connection
| Tone | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| confirmation | 〜, right? (seeking agreement) | これでいいじゃないですか |
| rhetorical | isn't it 〜? (reminder/reproach) | 知っているじゃないですか |
| exclamation | it's really 〜! (delight) | 安いじゃないですか! |
| connection | noun/な-adjective directly | 元気じゃないですか |
💬 Example Sentences
- これ、安いじゃないですか!(This is so cheap!) — exclamation (rising intonation)
- もう知っているじゃないですか。(You already know, don't you?) — rhetorical (reminder)
- 田中さん、元気じゃないですか。(Isn't Tanaka full of energy?) — exclamation/confirmation
- あ、財布忘れたじゃないですか!(Oh, you forgot your wallet, didn't you!) — rhetorical (reminder)
- これでいいじゃないですか。(This is fine, right?) — confirmation
🔄 Compare: じゃないですか (confirmation/rhetorical/exclamation) vs か vs でしょう vs よね
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜じゃないですか | confirmation/rhetorical/exclamation (by intonation) | 安いじゃないですか |
| 〜か | a plain question | 安いですか |
| 〜でしょう | 〜right? (supposition/confirmation) | 安いでしょう |
| 〜よね | 〜right? (seeking agreement) | 安いよね |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Three tones by intonation: confirmation (seeking agreement)/rhetorical (reminder, reproach)/exclamation (delight, rising), judged by intonation and context.
- Connection: noun/な-adjective attaches directly to じゃないですか (元気じゃないですか, ✗ 元気なじゃないですか).
- Not a true negative: じゃないですか is often confirmation/exclamation, not a true negative (安いじゃないですか = it's so cheap, not ‘not cheap').
- Colloquial contraction: じゃない = ではない; more casually じゃん (安いじゃん).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「〜じゃないですか」 is a negative question in form, but actually three tones: confirmation (〜, right?), rhetorical (isn't it 〜?, with a reminder), exclamation (it's really 〜!, delight, rising). ⚠️ Distinguished by intonation and context; a noun/な-adjective attaches directly. じゃない = colloquial contraction of ではない, more casually じゃん. A common N5 colloquial expression — master it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N5 core: 〜じゃないですか = confirmation (〜, right?)/rhetorical (isn't it 〜?, reminder)/exclamation (it's really 〜!, delight); by intonation and context.
- Connection: verb/い-adj plain form ＋ じゃないですか; noun/な-adjective directly (元気じゃないですか).
- Note: negative in form but often confirmation/exclamation (not a true negative); じゃない = colloquial contraction of ではない.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「これ、安いじゃないですか！」What tone is this?
(A) negation (B) exclamation (C) rhetorical question (D) plain question
Q2. 「もう知っている___か。」(you already know, don't you? — rhetorical)
(A) じゃないです (B) ではあります (C) くない (D) じゃないでし
Q3. 「田中さん、元気___ないですか。」(な-adjective)
(A) く (B) な (C) じゃ (D) で
Q4. 「あ、財布忘れた___ないですか！」(rhetorical)
(A) ではあり (B) じゃ (C) くじゃ (D) では
Q5. Which is NOT a meaning of じゃないですか?
(A) confirmation (right?)
(B) exclamation (it's really …!)
(C) rhetorical question (isn't it …?)
(D) past-tense negation
Answer Key
1. (B) exclamation ── said with rising intonation and delight, ‘this is so cheap!' is the exclamation use.
2. (A) じゃないです ── 知っているじゃないですか, the full rhetorical form.
3. (C) じゃ ── after a な-adjective (元気), じゃ: 元気じゃないですか.
4. (B) じゃ ── 忘れたじゃないですか (you forgot, didn't you!).
5. (D) ── じゃないですか is confirmation/exclamation/rhetorical, NOT a past-tense negation.