〜わけではない — It does not mean it is always so | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Softens a negative statement and shows that the speaker is rejecting only an overly strong conclusion.

Formation

Modifying form + わけではない: いいわけではありません, 好きなわけではない

When to use it

Core use: It does not mean it is always so

Examples

20 sentences

高いたかいからいいわけではありません
Just because something is expensive does not mean it is good.
日本人にほんじんだからみんな漢字かんじが好きすきなわけではありません
Being Japanese does not mean everyone likes kanji.
忙しいいそがしいので返事へんじが遅いおそいだけで怒っおこっているわけではありません
I am busy, so my reply is simply late; it does not mean I am angry.
毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしていてもすぐに上手じょうずになるわけではありません
Even if you study every day, it does not mean you will become good immediately.
この店みせは小さいちいさいですがメニューが少ないすくないわけではありません
This shop is small, but that does not mean the menu is limited.
一人ひとりで旅行りょこうするのが好きすきですが人ひとと行くいくのが嫌いきらいなわけではありません
I like traveling alone, but that does not mean I dislike traveling with others.
辛いからい物ものが苦手にがてですが日本にほん料理りょうりが嫌いきらいなわけではありません
I am not good with spicy food, but that does not mean I dislike Japanese cuisine.
笑っわらっているからうれしいわけではありません
Smiling does not necessarily mean that someone is happy.

12 more examples

このカメラは安いやすいですがすぐ壊れるこわれるわけではありません
This camera is inexpensive, but that does not mean it will break right away.
彼かれは静かしずかですが怒っおこっているわけではありません
He is quiet, but that does not mean he is angry.
曇っくもっていますが雨あめが降るふるわけではありません
It is cloudy, but that does not mean it will rain.
この部屋へやは静かしずかなわけではありません
It is not that this room is quiet.
明るいあかるいですがこの道みちは安全あんぜんなわけではありません
It is bright here, but that does not mean this road is safe.
席せきにいませんが彼かれは帰っかえったわけではありません
He is not at his desk, but that does not mean he has gone home.
今度こんどの試験しけんは難しいむずかしいわけではありません
It is not that the coming exam is difficult.
大きいおおきいですがその荷物にもつは重いおもいわけではありません
The luggage is big, but that does not mean it is heavy.
電車でんしゃはいつも時間じかんどおりに着くつくわけではありません
It is not that the train always arrives on time.
返事へんじはまだですが田中たなかさんは今日きょう来こないわけではありません
There is no reply yet, but that does not mean Mr. Tanaka will not come today.
電気でんきが消えきえていますがその店みせは休みやすみなわけではありません
The lights are off, but that does not mean the shop is closed today.
新しいあたらしい先生せんせいは親切しんせつなわけではありません
It is not that the new teacher is kind.

Important notes

わけではない denies an interpretation or a generalization rather than simply negating an event.

Common mistakes

全部分からない and 全部分かるわけではない can differ — the latter denies understanding everything.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: このカメラは安いやすいですがすぐ壊れるこわれるわけではありません I think the ramen at this place is tasty.This camera is inexpensive, but that does not mean it will break right away.This problem might be a little difficult.
Sentence 2: 今度こんどの試験しけんは難しいむずかしいわけではありません It is not that the coming exam is difficult.I think it will rain tomorrow.It is possible that the coming exam will be difficult.
Sentence 3: 新しいあたらしい先生せんせいは親切しんせつなわけではありません I think that person is a teacher.It is not that the new teacher is kind.It is possible that the new teacher is kind.

Similar grammar

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