Nihoner
というものではない
N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
to iu mono dewa nai
there is no guarantee that~
Next →
🃏 Flashcard
というものではない
to iu mono dewa nai
Tap to reveal usage
there is no guarantee that~
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading to iu mono dewa nai
Post ID 51164
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

there is no guarantee that~

📖 How to use it

Expresses that something is not necessarily true or guaranteed, often used to counter an assumption.

Attaches to Attach to the plain present (dictionary form) of verbs, or to the plain form of adjectives and nouns (with だ removed for nouns and な-adjectives). For nouns and な-adjectives, use というものではない after the noun/adjective stem.

This pattern means "it is not that..." or "there is no guarantee that...". It is used to deny a general assumption or to state that something does not automatically follow. For example, if someone thinks that studying hard guarantees good grades, you can say 勉強すればいいというものではない (It's not that studying hard is all it takes). The nuance is that the situation is more complex or that other factors are involved.

You'll often see it in slightly formal or written contexts, but it's also used in spoken Japanese to make a reasoned argument. The phrase というもの is a nominalizer, and ではない negates it. You can also say というものでもない, which adds a nuance of "not necessarily" and is slightly softer.

Remember to attach to the plain form. For example, できる (can do) becomes できるというものではない. For nouns, like 学生 (student), it becomes 学生というものではない.

お金があれば幸せになれるというものではない。
Okane ga areba shiawase ni nareru to iu mono dewa nai.
Having money doesn't guarantee happiness.
有名な先生に習えば上手になるというものではない。
Yuumei na sensei ni naraeba jouzu ni naru to iu mono dewa nai.
Learning from a famous teacher doesn't guarantee that you'll improve.
高ければいいというものではない。
Takakereba ii to iu mono dewa nai.
Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good.
Not というわけではない というものではない denies a general truth or principle, while というわけではない denies a specific reason or conclusion. For example, 疲れているからできないというわけではない means "It's not that I can't do it because I'm tired" (denying a reason), whereas 疲れているからできないというものではない would mean "Being tired doesn't necessarily mean you can't do it" (denying a general rule).
Register Neutral to slightly formal; used in both speech and writing, but more common in reasoned arguments or essays.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
というものではない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
🔊
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat というものではない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
🃏
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
✍️
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using というものではない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
⏰
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern というものではない mean? ▼
There is no guarantee that~
What JLPT level is というものではない? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use というものではない in a sentence? ▼
Attach というものではない (to iu mono dewa nai) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is というものではない formal or casual Japanese? ▼
というものではない is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember というものではない long-term? ▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.