〜とは限らない (〜とはかぎらない): This phrase means something is not always true. It shows there can be exceptions. It is like saying 'not always' or 'not necessarily'.

〜とは限らない

This phrase means something is not always true. It shows there can be exceptions. It is like saying 'not always' or 'not necessarily'.

N2 KMT4NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedJust Because X Does Not Mean YGrammar

Clause [plain form] + とは限らないPrimary

This phrase means something is not always true. It shows there can be exceptions. It is like saying 'not always' or 'not necessarily'.

お金持ちが必ずしも幸せだとは限らない。

Just because someone is rich doesn't necessarily mean they are happy.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Core Concepts

日本に住んでいても、日本語がペラペラになるとは限らない。

Even if you live in Japan, it's not guaranteed that you'll become fluent in Japanese.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEducation Travel & Transportation

人気があったからといって、その映画が面白かったとは限らない。

Just because the movie was popular doesn't mean it was interesting.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeMusic & Entertainment

先生の言うことがいつも正しいとは限りませんが、一度考えてみる価値はあります。

What the teacher says isn't always correct, but it's worth thinking about.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEducation

彼がパーティーに来ないとは限らないから、もう少し待ってみよう。

It's not a given that he won't come to the party, so let's wait a little longer.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeDaily Life Family & Relationships

This phrase tells you that something is not always true. It means there can be exceptions. It's like saying, "That's not always how it works." It helps you show that a general idea might not be right for everyone.

This is different from "〜からといって" because "〜とは限らない" is wider. "〜からといって" means "just because A, doesn't mean B." "〜とは限らない" can stand alone. It challenges a general idea. It says something is not always true. "〜わけではない" denies a specific idea. "〜とは限らない" talks about possibilities and exceptions.

Don't use this when you want to say something is definitely not true. For example, you can't say "He is not a student" with this phrase.

Often confused with(2)

〜からといって

This means 'just because A, it does not mean B'. You use it to say that a reason does not always lead to a certain outcome.

〜わけではない

This phrase means 'it is not true that...' or 'it does not mean that...'. You use it to say something is not entirely the case.

Contrasts with(3)

〜からといって

This means 'just because A, it does not mean B'. You use it to say that a reason does not always lead to a certain outcome.

〜じゃない

You use this at the end of a sentence. It shows you think something is true. It can also show mild surprise or a gentle 'I told you so'.

〜とも限らない

This phrase means something might happen. It is used even if it seems unlikely. It shows that something is possible.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

Dictionary

〜とは限らない

This phrase means something is not always true. It shows there can be exceptions. It is like saying 'not always' or 'not necessarily'.

N2 KMT4NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedJust Because X Does Not Mean YGrammar

Clause [plain form] + とは限らないPrimary

This phrase means something is not always true. It shows there can be exceptions. It is like saying 'not always' or 'not necessarily'.

お金持ちが必ずしも幸せだとは限らない。

Just because someone is rich doesn't necessarily mean they are happy.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Core Concepts

日本に住んでいても、日本語がペラペラになるとは限らない。

Even if you live in Japan, it's not guaranteed that you'll become fluent in Japanese.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEducation Travel & Transportation

人気があったからといって、その映画が面白かったとは限らない。

Just because the movie was popular doesn't mean it was interesting.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeMusic & Entertainment

先生の言うことがいつも正しいとは限りませんが、一度考えてみる価値はあります。

What the teacher says isn't always correct, but it's worth thinking about.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEducation

彼がパーティーに来ないとは限らないから、もう少し待ってみよう。

It's not a given that he won't come to the party, so let's wait a little longer.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeDaily Life Family & Relationships

Don't use this when you want to say something is definitely not true. For example, you can't say "He is not a student" with this phrase.

Often confused with(2)

〜からといって

This means 'just because A, it does not mean B'. You use it to say that a reason does not always lead to a certain outcome.

〜わけではない

This phrase means 'it is not true that...' or 'it does not mean that...'. You use it to say something is not entirely the case.

Contrasts with(3)

〜からといって

This means 'just because A, it does not mean B'. You use it to say that a reason does not always lead to a certain outcome.

〜じゃない

You use this at the end of a sentence. It shows you think something is true. It can also show mild surprise or a gentle 'I told you so'.

〜とも限らない

This phrase means something might happen. It is used even if it seems unlikely. It shows that something is possible.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜とは限らない

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜とは限らない

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery