Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 10: 18/20

()(わけ)ではない

It is not that, It doesn't mean that, It is not always the case

In casual language というわけじゃない can be used.

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb + という + わけでは(1)ない
[い]Adjective + という + わけでは(1)ない
[な]Adjective +()+ という + わけでは(1)ない
Noun +()+ という + わけでは(1)ない

(1) じゃ

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About というわけではない

()うわけではない is often considered an emphasized version of わけではない in stating that something 'doesn't mean that (A)', '(A) is not always the case', or 'it's not that (A)'. Being that という often presents (A) as a matter for discussion, or an important quotation structure, it will regularly be used to refer back to something that another person has said, in order to clarify that it may not be 100% accurate.
というわけではない may be used after any structure that could usually be paired with という, and a more literal translation may be thought of as 'it is not so that (A) can be said'. Although not required, だ will often be seen before nouns and な-Adjectives, and というわけではない.
  • 日本(にほん)に2年間(ねんかん)()んでいたからと()って、日本語(にほんご)(はな)せるというわけではない
    Just because I lived in Japan for two years does not mean I speak Japanese.
  • 数学(すうがく)(きら)というわけではない、ただ苦手(にがて)なだけだ。
    It's not that I don't like math, I'm just not good at it.
  • いつもニコニコしているからって、親切(しんせつ)というわけではない
    Just because they are always smiling doesn't mean they are nice.
  • 離婚(りこん)というわけではないが、しばらく別居(べっきょ)することになった。
    It was not a divorce, but we had to live separately for a while.
()うわけではない will regularly be used when the speaker is denying that something said earlier is the reason for something. This could either be a misunderstanding that they themselves want to avoid, or something that the listener asked them to clarify.

Examples

  • (はは):「(なん)これ()べないの?あたしの料理(りょうり)(きら)なの?」
    息子(むすこ):「(きら)というわけではないけど、(たん)(いま)()べたくない。」

    Mother: 'Why aren't you eating? Do you hate my cooking?'
    Son: 'It is not the case that I hate it, I am simply not hungry at the moment.'

  • (すべ)てのキノコが(どく)()っているというわけではない

    It is not the case that all mushrooms are poisonous.

  • このパソコン一番(いちばん)(はや)というわけではないのに、(おお)くの(ひと)()われた。いったい(なん)なんだ?

    This computer, despite not being the fastest, many people bought it. What the heck?

  • 儀式(ぎしき)というわけではないけど、あれはもはや儀式(ぎしき)(ちか)

    That is close to a ritual, but it doesn't mean that it is a ritual.

  • 正式(せいしき)基準(きじゅん)というわけではないですが、参考(さんこう)にしてください。

    It is not that it is officially the norm, but please take note.

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というわけではない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (9 in total)

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    About 2 years ago

    Can someone help explain the differences with these? In my head, they’re all “it doesn’t mean that ~” but I often get marked wrong without a nudge.

    わけではない
    というわけではない
    ことにはならない
    ということにはならない

  • Melanthe

    Melanthe

    About 2 years ago

    Seconding (and bumping) this question

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 2 years ago

    @Melanthe @FredKore
    Those two are very similar expressions.

    There is a strong tendency to use ことにはならない with ても and からといって(からって). As in:
    AからといってBことにはならない
    A[ても]Bことにはならない
    It is fairly uncommon to use it without those two constructions in the preceding clause (part of sentence). It is also more often used in refuting general statements. So it is a more limited expression, but basically interchangeable with (という)わけではない.

    わけではない can be used with からと言って and 「ても」 but it is not a requirement and it is quite common without those. わけではない is generally used when refuting/disagreeing with a statement of the interlocutor (a person we are talking with). It can be also used when refuting general statements and as a very indirect way of refusing. So it has more use-cases. But I would say it is also generally interchangeable with ことにはならない.

    When it comes to という, it is generally used ...

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