Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Not the time/place for X; far from being able to do X; impossible to do X because of the current situation.
🎯 Primary Function
To strongly express that a certain action or state is impossible or inappropriate given the current circumstances, often due to being too busy, troubled, or preoccupied.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + どころではない
Verb (dictionary form) + どころではない
Verb (ている form) + どころではない
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used, but perhaps slightly less formal than strictly polite expressions. Depends on the context.
Informal Situations
Commonly used among friends and in casual conversations.
Written Language
Frequently seen in essays, articles, and dialogue in novels or manga.
Spoken Language
Very common in daily conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing being too busy or occupied.
Used to say that because you are very busy, you don’t have time or it’s not appropriate to do something else.
Example: 仕事が忙しくて、旅行に行くどころではない。 (Shigoto ga isogashikute, ryokou ni iku dokoro de wa nai.) – I’m so busy with work, this is no time to go on a trip.
Expressing being in a difficult or troubled situation.
Used to indicate that because of a problem or difficult situation, you cannot or should not do something enjoyable or unrelated.
Example: 病気で寝込んでいるので、遊びに行くどころではない。 (Byouki de nekonde iru node, asobi ni iku dokoro de wa nai.) – I’m sick in bed, so this is no time to go out and have fun.
Emphasizing a great difference or inability.
Can also be used to say “far from X” or “not even close to X”, implying an inability to reach that state.
Example: 優勝するどころか、予選通過も難しかった。 (Yuushou suru dokoro ka, yosen tsuuka mo muzukashikatta.) – Far from winning the championship, even passing the preliminaries was difficult. (Note: This is the “どころか” variation, but related to the base meaning.)
Frequency
Fairly common, especially in conversational Japanese when expressing reasons for inability.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (JLPT N2), primarily for understanding the nuance and various contexts.
Example Sentences
来週試験があるから、テレビを見ているどころではない。
I have an exam next week, so this is no time to be watching TV.
熱があって頭が痛いので、パーティーに行くどころじゃない。
I have a fever and a headache, so this is no time to go to a party.
借金がたくさんあって、新しい車を買うどころではない。
I have a lot of debt, so this is no time to buy a new car.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Often used with a preceding phrase explaining the reason.
The reason why something is impossible or inappropriate is usually stated before 「どころではない」 using particles like 「て」, 「ので」, or 「から」.
Example: 締め切りが近いので、休んでいるどころではない。 (Shimekiri ga chikai node, yasunde iru dokoro de wa nai.) – The deadline is approaching, so this is no time to be resting.
Can use 「どころじゃない」 in informal speech.
「ではない」 becomes 「じゃない」 in casual conversation.
Example: 疲れてて、ご飯を食べるどころじゃないよ。 (Tsukare te te, gohan o taberu dokoro ja nai yo.) – I’m so tired, this is no time to eat.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Ranges from standard polite form (ではありません) to casual (じゃない). The nuance itself is not inherently super formal or informal, but expresses a personal state or situation.
Social Situations: Used when explaining why one cannot participate in an activity or fulfill a request.
Regional Variations: Mainly the standard form, with casual variations like 「じゃない」 being nationwide.
🔍 Subtle Differences
どころではない vs ～ている場合ではない
Both mean “this is no time/situation for X”. 「場合ではない」 might feel slightly more like a general statement about the current situation, while 「どころではない」 can feel slightly more personal, emphasizing the inability due to one’s state (busy, sick, etc.). The difference is often minimal and they are sometimes interchangeable.
When to use: Use 「どころではない」 when you want to emphasize that your current state or circumstances prevent an action. Use 「場合ではない」 when you want to emphasize that the current situation itself makes the action inappropriate or urgent to avoid.
どころではない vs ～ている状況ではない
Very similar to 「場合ではない」. 「状況」 (joukyou) also means “situation”. The nuance is very close to 「場合ではない」.
When to use: Use based on slight preference or specific context, often interchangeable with 「場合ではない」.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects directly after the dictionary form of a verb, the ている form of a verb, or directly after a noun.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced as “dokoro de wa nai”. In casual speech, “de wa” often becomes “ja”.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of どころ (dokoro) as meaning “place” or “situation”. So 「どころではない」 means “It is not the place/situation for (doing) X”.
Practice Exercises
JLPT試験前なので、遊んで（ ）。
どころではないです
はずではないです
ことではないです
わけではないです
レポートの締め切りが明日だから、ゆっくり（ ）。
するどころだ
しているところだ
するところではない
しているどころではない
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