When the voiced form of ところ ‘place’, どころ appears in Japanese, it will very often be part of a set phrase expressing some kind of negative situation or evaluation.
どころではない is no different, and highlights that it is ‘far from (A)’, or that ‘(A) is out of the question’. These translations appear when the actual situation is considered to be even more remarkable than the phrase that
どころではない is attached to.
This grammar pattern will be seen at the end of phrases indicating some situation which is not ideal. Additionally, ではない may be replaced with じゃない in more casual settings.
-
出産(しゅっさん)は痛(いた)いどころではないらしい。
They say childbirth is far from painful.
締(し)め切(き)りが迫(せま)って来(き)てるから、休憩(きゅうけい)を取(と)るどころじゃない。
The deadline is approaching, so taking a break is out of the question.
どころではない may also sometimes be translated as ‘it is not the time for (A)’. In sentences that use this interpretation, (A) is considered to be something that there is no allowance for due to there being far more important matters. This use will reflect the personal opinion of the speaker.
-
お母(かあ)さんからお父(とう)さんが倒(たお)れたと連絡(れんらく)があったので、仕事(しごと)どころではない。
It is not the time for working, since I got a message from my mother telling me that my father collapsed.
今(いま)は仕事(しごと)が忙(いそが)しいし、お金(かね)も全然(ぜんぜん)ないから、結婚(けっこん)どころじゃない。
Since I am busy with work and have no money, it is not the time to get married.