Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 2
〜そうにないんですが~ sou ni nai n desu ga
unlikely; gently explain difficulty
Use 〜そうにないんですが to say a result seems very unlikely from the current situation and gently open a discussion.
How it works
The train is still stopped, with only ten minutes until the appointment. Does arriving on time look likely?
The current situation suggests that something is very unlikely to happen. The outcome is not certain yet.
Remove 「ます」 from 「間に合います」 and add 「そうにない」: “It looks like I won’t make it in time.”
To explain politely, you can replace 「そうにない」 with 「そうにありません」.
Add 「んですが」 at the end to explain a difficulty gently and invite a response or a discussion.
「到着できそうにない」: judging from the current situation, I’m afraid I won’t be able to arrive on time.
「所要時間が読めそうにありません」: things are so uncertain that it looks difficult to estimate how long it will take.
Example sentences
- すみません、sumimasen、電車denshaがga止まっtomatてteいiて、te、時間jikanにni間に合いmaniaiそうにないsouninaiん
In a conversation
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Train delays are continuing, so it looks like I won't arrive by the scheduled time.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
すみません、電車が止まっていて、時間に間に合い____。
Excuse me, the train has stopped and it doesn't look like I'll make it on time.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜そうにないんですがunlikely; gently explain difficulty