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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜わけではない

    〜わけではない

    〜わけではない

    This phrase means 'it's not that...' or 'it doesn't mean...'. You use it to say something is not completely true. It helps you explain the real situation.

    N3KMT5FormalStandardNominal ConstructionMixedSoftening Negation And Assertion CasualGrammar

    Verb [dictionary form] + わけではないPrimary
    い-Adjective + わけではない
    な-Adjective + な + わけではない
    Noun + の + わけではない
    Clause + わけではありません

    This phrase means 'it's not that...' or 'it doesn't mean...'. You use it to say something is not completely true. It helps you explain the real situation.

    高たかいものが必かならずしも良よいわけではない。

    It's not necessarily the case that expensive things are good.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & FinanceCore Concepts
    彼かれを嫌きらいだったわけではないが、あまり話はなさなかった。

    It wasn't that I disliked him, but we just didn't talk much.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & PsychologyFamily & Relationships
    料りょう理りができないわけではないが、ただ時じ間かんがないだけだ。

    It's not that I can't cook, it's just that I don't have time.

    NeutralNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeDaily LifeFood & Dining
    彼かれのことが好すきではないわけではありません。ただ、今いまは仕し事ごとに集しゅう中ちゅうしたいんです。

    It's not that I don't like him. It's just that I want to focus on my work right now.

    PoliteNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEmotions & PsychologyWork & Career
    全すべての学がく生せいが賛さん成せいしているわけではない。

    It's not the case that all the students are in agreement.

    FormalProgressiveAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEducationPolitics & Law

    This phrase is like saying "it's not quite like that." You use it to gently correct someone. You are not saying they are totally wrong. You are just clarifying a small part.

    The difference is how formal they are. '〜わけではない' is more formal. You use it in writing or polite talking. '〜わけじゃない' is casual. You use it in daily chats.

    Use this when you want to say "it's not that..." or "it doesn't mean that...". It helps you say no gently. You can avoid sounding too strong.

    More formal alternatives(1)

    〜わけじゃない

    You use this phrase to say that something is not true. It means 'it's not that...' or 'it doesn't mean that...'.

    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.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    more_formal_than

    • 〜わけじゃない

    prerequisite

    • 辞書形
    • 〜い / 〜かった
    • 〜だ / 〜だった

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