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どころではない
N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
dokoro dewa nai
not the time for; far from
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🃏 Flashcard
どころではない
dokoro dewa nai
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not the time for; far from
N2
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading dokoro dewa nai
Post ID 51010
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

not the time for; far from

📖 How to use it

Used to say that a situation is so far from allowing something that the idea is almost absurd.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form of verbs, nouns, and な-adjective stems. For い-adjectives, attach directly to the dictionary form (e.g., 暑い). The pattern itself is どころではない.

This pattern expresses that something is completely out of the question because of the current circumstances. It often carries a tone of frustration or urgency. For example, if you're swamped with work, you might say you're not in a position to take a vacation — 旅行どころではない. It can also mean 'not just X, but even more so' when the following clause describes a more extreme degree of the same quality.

Use it with verbs in their dictionary form (e.g., 行くどころではない), nouns directly (e.g., 休みどころではない), or な-adjectives (e.g., 静かどころではない). It's common in spoken Japanese when complaining about a busy or difficult situation, but it's not overly casual; it works in both speech and writing.

期末試験が来週なのに、遊びに行くどころではない。
Kimatsu shiken ga raishū na noni, asobi ni iku dokoro dewa nai.
My final exams are next week, so this is no time for going out to have fun.
この部屋は暑いどころではない。サウナみたいだ。
Kono heya wa atsui dokoro dewa nai. Sauna mitai da.
This room is not just hot—it's like a sauna.
忙しくて、彼女とデートするどころではない。
Isogashikute, kanojo to dēto suru dokoro dewa nai.
I'm so busy that I can't even think about dating my girlfriend.
Not どころか どころではない means 'not the time for' or 'not just' and focuses on impossibility due to circumstances or escalation. どころか means 'let alone' and is used to contrast two things, often meaning 'not even X, let alone Y' or 'far from X, actually Y'.
Register Neutral but used in both spoken and written Japanese; more common in speech when complaining or explaining why something cannot be done.
🎯 Quick Quiz
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どころではない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
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Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat どころではない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using どころではない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern どころではない mean? ▼
Not the time for; far from
What JLPT level is どころではない? ▼
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 どころではない in a sentence? ▼
Attach どころではない (dokoro 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 どころではない formal or casual Japanese? ▼
どころではない 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 どころではない 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.