In English, we can distinguish between not wanting to do something, and wanting to not do something. It's not a distinction that we usually make, but it is possible:
P = "do anything" A. "I want to not do anything." WANT(NOT(P)) B. "I don't want to do anything." NOT(WANT(P))
The first sentence means WANT(NOT(P))
"I want to do nothing".
The second sentence literally means NOT(WANT(P))
"I lack the desire to do anything", but by implication it usually also means WANT(NOT(P))
"I want to do nothing". Since this is just an implication, it's possible for it to be cancelled in certain contexts.
I was wondering if something similar is true of 〜したくない
. Take a look at this sentence:
何もしたくない。
I think this usually means WANT(NOT(P))
"I want to do nothing". But is it possible for it to mean NOT(WANT(P))
"I lack the desire to do anything" as well?
Can 何もしたくない have either meaning?