Why does this mean the opposite of how I read it?

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Reply #1 - 2010 June 21, 5:31 pm
flyingsleeves New member
From: Austin Texas USA Registered: 2009-10-15 Posts: 2

From Princess Mononoke:
アラァ！！  やっぱり  いい男じゃない
Araa!!  Yappari ii otoko ja nai
Oh!!  I knew it, you are a good-looking man!


ja nai is negative, so why doesn't it mean, "I knew you weren't a good man."?

Thanks!

Reply #2 - 2010 June 21, 5:39 pm
Womacks23 Member
From: 恵比寿 Registered: 2008-01-10 Posts: 596

It's not really a negative sentence. The じゃない is just looking for confirmation.

Think of it like this : I knew it, you are a good guy aren't you?

Reply #3 - 2010 June 21, 5:42 pm
flyingsleeves New member
From: Austin Texas USA Registered: 2009-10-15 Posts: 2

Ah that makes sense. Thank you!

I guess it's a bit like ne or desho?

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