JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 12: ～わけがない・～どころではない (There is no way... / This is no time for...)

～わけがない・～どころではない (There is no way... / This is no time for...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L12_G1

1. ～わけがない (There is no way... / It is impossible that...)

Sentence Pattern
Plain form + わけがない
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ -> の / である

Meaning: Absolutely not, there is no way that could happen, it's impossible.
✓ An expression used when the speaker wants to strongly assert that there is no reason for something to happen.

Example Sentences (6)
この仕事しごとを今日中きょうじゅうに全部ぜんぶですか。私一人わたしひとりでできるわけがありませんよ。
All of this work by today? There is no way I can do it all by myself.
いつも日本語にほんごで話はなしをしないと、日本語にほんごが上手じょうずになるわけがない。
If you don't always speak in Japanese, there is no way you will become good at it.
こんな複雑ふくざつな問題もんだいが小学生しょうがくせいに分わかるわけがない。
There is no way an elementary school student could understand such a complex problem.
彼かれはあんなにやせている、相撲取すもうとりのわけがない。
He's so skinny, there's no way he's a sumo wrestler. (Noun + の).
田中先生たなかせんせいの試験しけんがそんなに簡単かんたんなわけがない。厳きびしいことで有名ゆうめいな先生せんせいなのだ。
There's no way Professor Tanaka's exam would be that easy. He is famous for being a strict teacher.
この店みせは元一流もといちりゅうホテルのコックさんが開ひらいたんだ。料理りょうりがおいしくないわけがない。
This restaurant was opened by a chef from a formerly top-class hotel. There's no way the food isn't delicious.
Point 2N2_L12_G2

2. ～どころではない / ～どころか (Far from... / Not just... but...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N / Plain form + どころではない / どころか
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ

Meaning: Far from being at this level (as expected), the reality is the exact opposite or even worse.
✓ The preceding and following clauses of どころか show two largely differing degrees or completely opposite states.
✓ It is often used to express that the situation in the second clause is much worse than the expected situation in the first clause.

Example Sentences (7)
せきが出でるので風邪かぜかなと思おもっていたが、ただの風邪かぜどころではなく、肺炎はいえんだった。
Because I had a cough, I thought it was a cold, but far from just a common cold, it was pneumonia.
この部屋へやは涼すずしいどころか暑あつすぎる。
This room is far from cool; it's way too hot.
彼かれは貯金ちょきんするどころか借金しゃっきんばかりだ。
Far from saving money, he's just deep in debt.
彼かれの奥おくさんは優やさしいどころか、鬼おにのような人ひとだ。
His wife is far from gentle; she's like a demon.
休日きゅうじつなのでちょっとは道みちが込こむだろうと思おもっていたが、ちょっとどころではなかった。
Since it was a holiday, I thought the roads would be a bit crowded, but it wasn't just a bit; it was jammed.
マナーが悪わるい人ひとをちょっと注意ちゅういしたら、謝あやまるどころか、逆ぎゃくに私わたしにどなった。
When I gave a slight warning to a person with bad manners, far from apologizing, they shouted at me instead.
こんな下手へたなチームでは、何度試合なんどしあいをしても一度いちども勝かてないどころか、1点てんも入いれられないだろう。
With such an unskilled team, no matter how many matches they play, far from never winning a single one, they probably won't even be able to score a single point.
Point 3N2_L12_G3

3. ～ものか / ～もんか (Absolutely not / As if...)

Sentence Pattern
Plain form + ものか / もんか
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ -> な

Meaning: Absolutely not, there is no way. (Used in spoken language).
✓ A strong negative expression, mixed with personal emotions (such as anger or dissatisfaction).
✓ Has a contracted form commonly used in conversation: 〜もんか.
✓ Women/girls often use a softer expression: 〜ものですか and 〜もんですか.

Example Sentences (6)
嬉うれしいものか。困こまっているんだ。
As if I'm happy. I'm actually in trouble.
彼かれは正直しょうじきなものか。嘘うそばかり言いう人ひとだ。
As if he is honest. He's a person who only tells lies.
山田やまだが時間じかんどおりに来くるものか。あいつはいつも遅刻ちこくなんだから。
No way Yamada will come on time. That guy is always late.
駅えきから歩あるいて40分よんじゅっぷん。バスもない。こんな不便ふべんな所ところに住すめるものか。
A 40-minute walk from the station. No buses either. There is no way I could live in such an inconvenient place.
あの人ひとが正直しょうじきなもんか。うそばかり言いう人ひとだ。
As if that person is honest. They're someone who only tells lies. (Contracted form もんか).
私わたしが努力家どりょくかなもんですか。こつこつと努力どりょくするのは苦手にがてなんですよ。
As if I am a hardworking person. I am actually bad at putting in steady effort. (Feminine expression).
Point 4N2_L12_G4

4. ～わけではない / ～というわけではない (It does not mean that... / Not necessarily...)

Sentence Pattern
Plain form + わけではない
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ -> の / な / である
Plain form (Nだ / Naだ) + というわけではない

Meaning: Not altogether, not exactly (partial negation).
✓ When used for partial negation, this sentence pattern is often accompanied by words expressing totality such as いつも (always), だれでも (anyone), どこでも (anywhere)... or 必ずしも (not necessarily, not always).

Example Sentences (6)
携帯電話けいたいでんわを持もっていても、いつでも電話でんわに出でられるわけではない。
Even if I have my mobile phone with me, it doesn't mean I can answer calls at any time.
A「どうしたの？ 怒おこっているの？」 B「怒おこっているわけじゃないけど……あなたの気持きもち、このごろよくわからない。」
A: 'What's wrong? Are you angry?' B: 'It's not exactly that I'm angry, but... I don't really understand your feelings lately.'
親おやの気持きもちもわからないわけではないが、自分じぶんの進路しんろは自分じぶんで決きめたい。
It's not that I don't understand my parents' feelings, but I want to decide my own career path by myself.
熱ねつがあるわけではないが、なんとなく体からだが疲つかれた感かんじがする。
It's not exactly that I have a fever, but somehow my body feels tired.
旅行りょこうに行いきたくないわけではないが、いろいろ忙いそがしくて行いけない。
It's not that I don't want to go on a trip, but I am busy with various things and cannot go.
その日ひは絶対ぜったいに無理むりというわけではありませんが、できれば別べつの日ひにしてもらえるとありがたいです。
It's not that that day is absolutely impossible, but if possible, I would appreciate it if we could make it another day.
Point 5N2_L12_G5

5. ～というものではない / ～というものでもない (It's not a matter of... / It doesn't mean that just because...)

Sentence Pattern
Plain form + というものではない / というものでもない
* Na-adjective / Noun N (có thể giữ nguyên だ)

Meaning: Meeting the condition is not everything. (The nature of the matter is not that simple).
✓ This expression shows the speaker's perspective and feelings about the nature of things.
✓ Often used with conditionals (～ば、～たら) or ～からといって (just because...).
✓ Between the two, というものでもない is a softer expression.

Example Sentences (6)
医師いしの仕事しごとは資格しかくをとればできるというものではない。常つねに最新さいしんの治療法ちりょうほうを研究けんきゅうする姿勢しせいがなければいけない。
A doctor's job is not something you can do just by getting a qualification. You must always have the attitude to research the latest medical treatments.
お金かねさえあれば幸しあわせに暮くらせるというものではない。
Having money doesn't necessarily mean you can live happily.
かぎをかけたから安心あんしんというものでもない。
Just because you locked the door doesn't necessarily mean you can be completely at ease.
自由じゆうだからといって、何なにをしてもいいというものではありません。
Just because you are free, it doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.
練習問題れんしゅうもんだいは一度いちどやれば終おわりだというものではない。間違まちがったところをよく復習ふくしゅうすることが大切たいせつだ。
Practice questions are not something that are over just by doing them once. It's important to thoroughly review the parts you got wrong.
努力どりょくすれば必かならず成功せいこうするというものでもない。チャンスも必要ひつようだ。
Effort doesn't always guarantee success. Opportunities are also necessary.
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