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ではあるまいか
N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
dewa arumai ka
isn't it; I wonder if it’s not ~
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🃏 Flashcard
ではあるまいか
dewa arumai ka
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isn't it; I wonder if it’s not ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading dewa arumai ka
Post ID 51212
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

isn't it; I wonder if it’s not ~

📖 How to use it

A literary/philosophical way to say 'isn't it' or 'I wonder if it's not', used for tentative assertion.

Attaches to Attach to the noun or な-adjective stem directly, followed by ではあるまいか. For verbs and い-adjectives, use the plain present affirmative form (dictionary form) before のではあるまいか (with の) or directly ではあるまいか after the dictionary form, but the noun/な-adj pattern is the most common.

This pattern expresses a rhetorical question meaning 'isn't it perhaps' or 'I wonder if it's not'. It suggests the speaker has a suspicion or inclination toward a certain conclusion, but frames it as a question to soften the assertion. It often appears in essays, speeches, or formal writing, giving a reflective, somewhat philosophical tone. For example, when pondering a societal issue, a writer might use it to propose an idea without stating it bluntly. In conversation, it sounds overly formal and bookish, so you'll rarely hear it in casual chat; it's more at home in written critiques or academic discussions. The まい here is the classical negative conjecture, making the whole phrase mean 'it is not that...?' essentially, so the nuance is that you think something is true but invite agreement or further thought.

このままでは、日本経済は衰退していくのではあるまいか。
Kono mama de wa, nihon keizai wa suitaishite iku no dewa arumai ka.
At this rate, isn't the Japanese economy going to decline?
彼の言動は、少し傲慢ではあるまいか。
Kare no gendou wa, sukoshi gouman dewa arumai ka.
Isn't his behavior a bit arrogant?
この計画は、現実的ではあるまいかと懸念している。
Kono keikaku wa, genjitsuteki dewa arumai ka to kenen shite iru.
I worry that this plan might not be realistic.
Not ではないか (dewa nai ka) ではないか is a more direct and common way to say 'isn't it' (seeking agreement), while ではあるまいか is more tentative and literary, often implying doubt or a gentle suggestion. Use ではないか in everyday speech; reserve ではあるまいか for formal writing or rhetorical questions.
Register Formal and literary; rarely used in everyday conversation, more typical of written essays, speeches, or analytical commentary.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ではあるまいか
📚 How to Master This Pattern
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Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ではあるまいか three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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Flip Before Reading
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Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ではあるまいか. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
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Spaced Review
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ではあるまいか mean? ▼
Isn't it; I wonder if it’s not ~
What JLPT level is ではあるまいか? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ではあるまいか in a sentence? ▼
Attach ではあるまいか (dewa arumai ka) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ではあるまいか formal or casual Japanese? ▼
ではあるまいか is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember ではあるまいか long-term? ▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.