JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
It doesn't mean that; it's not the case that
Category: Judgment & Opinion
The grammar pattern "V/A/N (ordinary form) + わけではない" is used to partially deny a statement or to clarify that a logical conclusion isn't necessarily true. It softens a negative statement by implying that the speaker is not entirely convinced or certain about the statement. This pattern is often used in situations where the speaker wants to express a nuance or a degree of uncertainty. For example, when someone says "日本料理が嫌いだ" (I hate Japanese food), you can respond with "日本料理が嫌いなわけではない、ただ生魚が苦手なだけだ" (It's not that I hate Japanese food, it's just that I don't like raw fish).
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Na-adjective | Na-adjective (ordinary form) + わけではない | 日本料理が嫌いなわけではない |
| Noun | Noun (ordinary form) + わけではない | 仕事が忙しいわけではない |
| Verb | Verb (base form) + わけではない | 毎日遅くまで働いているわけではない |
日本料理が嫌いなわけではない、ただ生魚が苦手なだけだ。
Nihon ryōri ga kirai na wake dewa nai, tada nama sakana ga kusai na dake da.
It's not that I hate Japanese food, it's just that I don't like raw fish.
日本料理が嫌いなわけではない (It's not that I hate Japanese food) + ただ生魚が苦手なだけだ (just that I don't like raw fish)
高いものが必ずしも質が良いわけではない。
Takai mono ga kanarazu shiyo ga yoi wake dewa nai.
It's not that expensive things are always of good quality.
高いものが必ずしも質が良いわけではない (It's not that expensive things are always of good quality)
毎日遅くまで働いているわけではない。
Mainichi osoku made hataraku wake dewa nai.
It's not that I work until late every day.
毎日遅くまで働いているわけではない (It's not that I work until late every day)
彼は毎日遅くまで働いているわけではないが、仕事が忙しい。
Kare wa mainichi osoku made hataraku wake dewa nai ga, shigoto ga isogashii.
He's not working until late every day, but he's busy with work.
彼は毎日遅くまで働いているわけではない (He's not working until late every day) + が (but) + 仕事が忙しい (he's busy with work)
This pattern is used to soften a negative statement or to express a nuance. It's often used in situations where the speaker wants to clarify or modify the original statement. The pattern can be used with Na-adjectives, nouns, and verbs. It's a common pattern in Japanese and is often used in everyday conversation.
～わけがない is used to express strong impossibility, whereas ～わけではない is used to express partial denial or nuance.
～わけにはいかない is used to express social constraints or impossibility due to circumstances, whereas ～わけではない is used to express partial denial or nuance.
Na-adjectives require the 'na' particle to form the ordinary form, which is then followed by わけではない.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to pay attention to the context and the nuance of the statement. This pattern is often used to soften a negative statement, so be careful not to mix it up with other patterns that express strong impossibility or social constraints.
日本料理が嫌いな______、ただ生魚が苦手なだけだ。
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