Today I am going to share the Q&A quoted from my JLPT N3 course!

 

[Question]

Sensei, in the example, どこかでコーヒー、買えないかな*。
買えない it sound like don’t buy which easily cause confuse.
Is this a grammar that I should refer back ?
Thank you.

*どこかでコーヒー、買(か)えないかな。
I wonder if I can buy coffee (somewhere)…

 

 

[My Reply]

This may be confusing because of the use of [nai-form], but 〜ないかな expresses hope or desire.

〜ないかな
＝〜といいな (It would be nice if)
＝〜てほしいな (I wish for)

買えないかな
＝買えるといいな
＝買いたいな

 

はやくクリスマスにならないかな。
I can’t wait for Christmas to come.

誰(だれ)かコンサートに一緒(いっしょ)に行かないかな。
I wonder if anybody can go to the concert with me.

父(ちち)がプレゼントを買ってくれないかな。
I wish my father would buy me a gift.

いい人いないかな〜😅（When you want a boyfriend）
I wonder if there is someone nice for me.

 

Anime and drama characters often say ‘〜ないかな’, so by watching them frequently, you’ll get used to hearing it.

 

I hope my answer helps you. 😊

 

 

In the JLPT course, you can ask me any questions as much as you want.
I will teach you until you get it!