Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 14/21

とは限(かぎ)らない

Not necessarily so, Is not always true, There is no guarantee that

Structure

Verb + とは限(かぎ)らない
［い］Adjective + とは限(かぎ)らない
［な］Adjective + だ + とは限(かぎ)らない
Noun + だ + とは限(かぎ)らない

Details

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About とは限らない

とは限(かぎ)らない is regularly used to convey the meaning of '(A) is not necessarily so', or 'there is no guarantee that (A)'. This expression utilizes the case marking particle と in its use for highlighting results, the adverbial particle は, and the negated form of the う - Verb 限(かぎ)る 'to limit'.
This structure may be used with verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, or nouns. However, だ will be required after な-Adjectives and nouns.
  • 日本(にほん)に2年(ねん)間(かん)住(す)んでいるからといって、日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)せるとは限(かぎ)らない。
    It is not limited to a person being able to speak Japanese just because they have lived in Japan for 2 years.
  • 日(ひ)が出(で)てても暖(あたた)かいとは限(かぎ)らない。
    Just because the sun is out, doesn't necessarily mean that it is warm.
  • 田舎(いなか)でも静(しず)かだとは限(かぎ)らない。
    A place being rural doesn't necessarily mean that it is quiet.
  • 社長(しゃちょう)だからといって乗(の)っている車(くるま)が高級車(こうきゅうしゃ)だとは限(かぎ)らない。
    It is not limited to him driving a luxury car, just because he is the CEO.
限(かぎ)らない literally means 'to not be bound', or 'to not be limited'. Therefore, despite と highlighting a result, that result is then being clarified as 'not the only possibility'.

Synonyms

Examples

  • すべての人間(にんげん)が上手(じょうず)に歌(うた)えるとは限(かぎ)らない。

    It is not necessarily true that everybody can sing well.

  • 毎年(まいとし)の冬(ふゆ)に必(かなら)ず雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)るとは限(かぎ)らない。

    It is not necessarily the case that it will snow every winter.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)が「愛(あい)している」と言(い)ってくれても、離婚(りこん)しないとは限(かぎ)らない。

    Just because she says she loves you doesn't necessarily mean you won't get a divorce.

  • 裕福(ゆうふく)になっても、幸福(こうふく)になれるとは限(かぎ)らない。

    Even if you become rich, there is no guarantee that you will be happy.

  • 君(きみ)の言(い)うことがいつも正(ただ)しいとは限(かぎ)らないでしょ。

    The things you say are not necessarily always right.

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