“〜ja nai desu ka / dewa nai desu ka”: Confirmation, Rhetorical Question, Exclamation [JLPT N5]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「これ、安いじゃないですか！」 — confirming, reminding, or exclaiming — told by intonation.

「これ、安いじゃないですか！」 — this isn't saying “not cheap”

「これ、安いじゃないですか！」 looks like a negative question (“isn't it cheap?”), but it's really an exclamation — “wow, this is cheap!” 「〜じゃないですか」 is a negative question in form but expresses three feelings: confirmation (…, right?), a pointed rhetorical challenge (isn't it…? — a reminder), and exclamation (it's really …!) — all decided by intonation and context. This guide separates the three so you stop reading it as plain negation.

Three tones: confirm, challenge, exclaim

• ① Confirmation “…, right?” (seeking agreement): これでいいじゃないですか (this is fine, right?).
• ② Rhetorical challenge “isn't it…?” (a reminder or mild reproach, often “but you know…”): 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 pitch, surprise/discovery): これ、安いじゃないですか！

Read it: seeking a yes = confirmation; a reminder = challenge; rising ＋ surprise = exclamation.

How to Connect

Example sentences

• これ、安いじゃないですか！(Wow, this is cheap!) — exclamation (rising)
• もう知っているじゃないですか。(You already know, don't you?) — challenge (reminder)
• 田中さん、元気じゃないですか。(Isn't Tanaka in great spirits!) — exclamation/confirmation
• あ、財布忘れたじゃないですか！(Hey, you forgot your wallet!) — challenge (reminder)
• これでいいじゃないですか。(This is fine, right?) — confirmation

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① **It's often not real negation.** 「安いじゃないですか」 is praising the low price (it's cheap!), not saying “not cheap.” Don't reflexively translate it as a negative.

② Nouns and na-adjectives attach directly. 元気じゃないですか (✗ 元気なじゃないですか).

③ Distinguish it from plain 「じゃない」. 「彼は学生じゃない」 = he's not a student (a negative statement); 「彼は学生じゃないですか」 = isn't he a student / he is a student, you know (confirmation/challenge). Adding 「ですか」 flips the meaning.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: じゃないですか / か / でしょう / よね

💡 How to remember this

「〜じゃないですか」 is a high-frequency little boss of Japanese conversation — it looks like a negative but usually confirms, reminds, or marvels. One trick: listen to the pitch. Rising and excited = exclamation (it's so …!); a “but you know that” tone = challenge; a flat “right?” fishing for agreement = confirmation. Watch dramas and variety shows and you'll hear it constantly — catch the intonation and it all clicks.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: So is 「安いじゃないですか」 cheap or not cheap?

Cheap! Here 「じゃないですか」 is exclamation/confirmation, stressing “it's so cheap.” Negative in form, positive in meaning — don't be fooled by the surface.

Q: Is 「じゃないですか」 the same as 「じゃん」?

「じゃん」 is a more casual spoken version (安いじゃん = so cheap), lighter and more youthful/Kansai. Use 「じゃないですか」 when it's a touch more formal, 「じゃん」 among friends.

🖊️ 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.