When do I use "na" or "nicht" in German?
For example, na gut
vs nicht gut
, is there a difference? Which is grammatical?
Na klar
vs nicht klar
, are both grammatical?
When do I use "na" or "nicht" in German?
For example, na gut
vs nicht gut
, is there a difference? Which is grammatical?
Na klar
vs nicht klar
, are both grammatical?
The examples you listed have a different meaning. na
is not a negation but an interjection.
na klar
means: sure
while na gut
means: if it can't be helped
or something.
from Wiktionary:
ein sehr nuancierter, kontextabhängiger, floskelhafter Ausdruck der Zustimmung, der Überraschung, der Verwunderung, des Zweifels, der Skepsis, der Ablehnung, der Ungeduld, des Ärgers, der sanften Drohung, der Ermahnung, der Entrüstung, der Missbilligung; er dient weiterhin der Schaffung einer Denkpause oder Gesprächspause, um die Aufmerksamkeit, die Spannung zu erhöhen oder das Nachfolgende herauszustellen
"na" isn't a negation. It doesn't mean "no" in any way. "na" doesn't change the meaning of what you say, it just changes the tone. It mostly acts like a reinforcement of its succeeding words. You can always leave it out, it's somewhat redundant.
"nicht" instead has a very clear semantic meaning, it negates the succeeding word.
na
in na gut
because it significantly changes the meaning from good
to reluctant agreement