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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜わけじゃない

    〜わけじゃない

    〜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...'.

    N3KMT4CasualNominal ConstructionMixedSoftening Negation And Assertion CasualGrammar

    Verb [plain form] + わけじゃないPrimary
    い-Adjective + わけじゃない
    な-Adjective + な + わけじゃない
    Noun + の + 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...'.

    お金かねがあれば幸しあわせになれるわけじゃないよ。

    It's not like having money will make you happy, you know.

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & FinanceEmotions & Psychology
    毎まい日にち運うん動どうしてるけど、痩やせたいわけじゃないんだ。健けん康こうのためだよ。

    I exercise every day, but it's not that I want to lose weight. It's for my health.

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeDaily LifeMedicine & Health
    試し験けんが特とくに難むずかしかったわけじゃなかった。ただ勉べん強きょうしなかっただけだ。

    It wasn't that the test was particularly difficult. It's just that I didn't study.

    CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeEducation
    君きみのことが嫌きらいなわけじゃない。ただ、今いまは一ひと人りになりたいんだ。

    It's not that I dislike you. It's just that I want to be alone right now.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFamily & RelationshipsEmotions & Psychology
    行いきたくないわけじゃないけど、他ほかに用よう事じがあるんだ。

    It's not that I don't want to go, but I have other plans.

    CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeDaily Life

    This phrase helps you correct a wrong idea. Someone might guess something about you. You use this phrase to say their guess is not quite right. Then you can tell them the real story.

    This is like "it's not that..." in English. It makes a denial softer. It is less formal than "〜わけではない". It is very similar to "〜ってわけじゃない".

    Watch out: Don't use 〜わけじゃない for simple 'not' sentences. Use 〜じゃない instead. For example, say 'This is not a pen' with これはペンじゃない. If you say これはペンなわけじゃない, it sounds like you are correcting someone. It sounds like someone thought it was a pen, but it's not.

    Use this when you want to say what is not true first. Then you can say what is true. It helps you explain your real feelings or reasons.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜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.

    〜だ / 〜だった

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

    ない形

    This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    less_formal_than

    • 〜わけではない

    Variants

    • 〜ってわけじゃない

    Similar concepts

    • 〜とは限らない
    • 〜というわけじゃない
    • 〜とは言えない

    prerequisite

    • 〜だ / 〜だった
    • ない形
    • 〜というわけだ
    • 〜わけにはいかない
    • 〜ないわけにはいかない

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