Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 1/22

必(かなら)ずしもNot always, Not entirely, Not necessarily

Structure

必(かなら)ずしも + Phrase + わけではない(1)
必(かなら)ずしも + Phrase + とは限(かぎ)らない
必(かなら)ずしも + Phrase + とは言(い)えない


(1) わけじゃない

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About 必ずしも

Although it is often considered a stand-alone adverb, 必(かなら)ずしも is a combination of the adverb 必(かなら)ず 'invariably', or 'certainly', and the adverbial particles し and も. し and も are often combined in order to strengthen the meaning of the word before it. Due to this, 必(かならず)ずしも may be translated as something similar to 'absolutely certainly'.

However, 必(かならず)ずしも is an expression that is only used in negative sentences, so is commonly translated as 'not always (A)', 'not entirely (A)', or 'not necessarily (A)'. Despite this, the literal meaning is close to 'not absolutely certainly (A)'. 必(かならず)ずしも is often used at the beginning of a phrase, before expressing something that is not 100% certain.

Related

Examples

--:--

    失敗(しっぱい)は必(かなら)ずしも悪(わる)いわけではない。

    Failure is not necessarily bad.

    必(かなら)ずしも上達(じょうたつ)するわけではない。

    You will not necessarily become more proficient.

    思(おも)い出(で)が必(かなら)ずしも美(うつく)しいとは限(かぎ)らない。

    Memories are not always beautiful.

    天気(てんき)予報(よほう)は必(かなら)ずしも当(あ)たるわけではない。

    Forecasts are not always right.

    必(かなら)ずしもこの情報(じょうほう)が正(ただ)しいとは限(かぎ)らない。

    This information is not necessarily correct.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese

          Page 54

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      必ずしも – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

      • rever4217

        rever4217

        There’s a mistake in the second example sentence. Double も’s.
        刑務所にいる人たちは必ずしもも犯罪を犯したとは限らない。

      • CrisH

        CrisH

        Could you say more about the し in this construction? Is this the particle for listing reasons, or does the かな have another use represented here?

      • Pablunpro

        Pablunpro

        Hi!

        It is the 必ずしも grammar point (N3, lesson 9, first grammar point).

        HTH!

      Got questions about 必ずしも ? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion