Posted inN3 Grammar

JLPT N3 Grammar: とは限らない (とはかぎらない) – It’s Not Always The Case!

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Not always, not necessarily, it’s not guaranteed that…

🎯 Primary Function

To state that a general assumption, expectation, or rule is not always true, emphasizing the possibility of exceptions.

📋 Grammar Structure

【接続】 動詞の普通形 ＋ とは限らない い形容詞の普通形 ＋ とは限らない な形容詞の普通形（だはつかないことが多い）＋ とは限らない 名詞 ＋ とは限らない 【例】 行く ＋ とは限らない 行かない ＋ とは限らない 行った ＋ とは限らない 面白くない ＋ とは限らない 便利だ → 便利な ＋ とは限らない または 便利 ＋ とは限らない (だ is usually omitted) 学生だ → 学生 ＋ とは限らない (だ is usually omitted)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal contexts, especially in written language or structured speech.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used in informal conversations to express a nuanced viewpoint or exception.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in essays, articles, reports, and other written materials.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in discussions, debates, and everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing exceptions to a general rule or belief.
Used when you want to say that although something is often true, it is not always true or there can be cases where it is not.
Example: 値段が高いものが、必ずしも質が良いとは限らない。(Things that are expensive are not always good quality.)
Refuting or adding nuance to a generalization.
Counters an absolute statement by pointing out that it is not universally applicable.
Example: 日本人だからといって、皆がアニメ好きとは限らない。(Just because someone is Japanese doesn’t mean everyone likes anime.)
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Example: undefined
📊
Frequency
Fairly common in both written and spoken Japanese, especially when discussing possibilities, exceptions, or qualified statements.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Example Sentences
日本語が上手だからといって、日本の文化を全て知っているとは限らない。
Just because someone is good at Japanese doesn’t necessarily mean they know everything about Japanese culture.
値段が高いものが、必ずしも質が良いとは限らない。
Things that are expensive are not always good quality.
忙しい人が、いつも不幸だとは限らない。
Busy people are not necessarily always unhappy.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Expresses Partial Negation
This pattern does not express a complete negation but rather points out that something is not always or necessarily true, allowing for exceptions.
Example: 彼が来ないとは限らない。(It’s not necessarily true that he won’t come. / He might come.) – This is different from 彼が来ない。(He won’t come.)
Often used with quantifying adverbs
Frequently paired with words like 必ずしも (kanarazushimo – not necessarily), いつも (itsumo – always), 必ず (kanarazu – always), みんな (minna – everyone) to reinforce the idea of an exception to a general case.
Example: 必ずしも高いものが良いとは限らない。(Expensive things are not necessarily good.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrectly attaching to な-adjectives or nouns.
✅ When attaching to a な-adjective or noun, the だ is usually omitted.
Incorrect: 便利なだとは限らない, 学生だとは限らない. Correct: 便利なとは限らない, 学生とは限らない.
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✅ undefined
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both polite and casual situations depending on the surrounding language.
Social Situations: Used when expressing a nuanced opinion, disagreeing politely with a generalization, or discussing possibilities and exceptions.
Regional Variations: The pattern itself does not have significant regional variations, though the particles used with it or the surrounding sentence structure might vary slightly.

🔍 Subtle Differences

とは限らない vs わけではない
「とは限らない」 emphasizes that something is not always true or not necessarily the case (allowing for exceptions). 「わけではない」 often denies a reason or conclusion that someone might assume.
When to use: Use とは限らない when saying “it’s not always X” or “it’s not necessarily X”. Use わけではない when saying “it’s not that X” or “it doesn’t mean X”. Example: 彼が笑ったからといって、嬉しいわけではない。(It’s not that he’s happy just because he smiled – negating the reason/conclusion). 彼がいつも笑っているとは限らない。(It’s not always true that he is smiling – allowing for times he isn’t smiling.)
とは限らない vs とは言えない
「とは限らない」 states that something is not always or necessarily true. 「とは言えない」 means “cannot say that X is true” or “it’s not possible to say X is true”, often implying uncertainty or a lack of strong evidence.
When to use: Use とは限らない when you know there are exceptions. Use とは言えない when you are uncertain or cannot definitively confirm something.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to the plain form of verbs and i-adjectives. For na-adjectives and nouns, connect directly or use the な form for na-adjectives, usually omitting だ.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced とわかぎらない (to wa ka gi ra na i). The は is pronounced as わ (wa) in とは. The stress is typically on the third syllable, かぎ (kagi).

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 限る (かぎる) meaning “to limit”. とは限らない means “it’s not limited to being just that way”, implying there are exceptions.

Practice Exercises
いつも元気な人が、心の中で悩んでいない（）。
とは限らない
わけがない
はずがない
に違いない
安いからといって、その商品が悪い（）。
に決まっている
はずだ
とは限らない
かもしれない
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