Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses that something is generally not done, should not be done, or is not the kind of thing that happens/is done.
🎯 Primary Function
To express advice or warnings based on general social norms, common sense, or established rules; to state a general truth about expected behavior; to express impossibility or something that absolutely should not happen.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form) + ものではない
い-adjective + ものではない
な-adjective + な + ものではない
Noun + である + ものではない (Less common, sounds formal)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Often used in more formal settings or when giving serious advice/warnings.
Informal Situations
Can be used, but sounds somewhat firm or preachy. More common in less casual conversations or when emphasizing a point.
Written Language
Frequently appears in written texts, essays, instructions, and literature when discussing general principles or rules.
Spoken Language
Used in spoken Japanese, particularly when advising, scolding, or making a strong statement about expectations.
💡 Common Applications
Giving advice or warnings based on social norms/common sense
Used to tell someone that a certain action is inappropriate or goes against what is generally accepted.
Example: 目上の人にため口を聞くものではない。 (One should not use casual language with superiors.)
Stating a general truth or principle
Expresses what is naturally expected or constitutes common sense behavior for a certain role or situation.
Example: 大人は子供の前でけんかするものではない。 (Adults should not quarrel in front of children.)
Expressing impossibility or unreasonableness
Indicates that something cannot happen, is impossible, or is unreasonable given the circumstances.
Example: こんな短時間では、いくら頑張っても終わるものではない。 (No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to finish in such a short time.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent in written materials, formal speech, and situations requiring advice or stating general truths.
Difficulty
N2
Example Sentences
他人の秘密をむやみに話すものではない。
One should not carelessly talk about other people’s secrets.
試験中にスマホを見るものではない。
You shouldn’t look at your smartphone during the exam.
そんな簡単なことで諦めるものではない。
You shouldn’t give up on something so simple.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies a general rule or common sense
Used to express something that is generally accepted as right or wrong, or expected behavior based on social norms rather than a personal opinion.
Example: 子供をお金で釣るものではない。 (You shouldn’t bribe children with money. – This reflects a general parenting principle.)
Can express prohibition or impossibility
Depending on the context, it can mean “should not do X” (advice/warning) or “X cannot happen / is impossible” (statement of fact/impossibility).
Example: 真面目に勉強しない者がN1に合格できるものではない。 (It is impossible for someone who doesn’t study seriously to pass N1.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it in very casual conversations
✅ In very casual contexts, other forms like ～ちゃいけない or simple negative commands might be more natural.
ものではない has a slightly formal or emphatic tone, less suitable for lighthearted chat.
❌ Confusing it with 〜たいものだ
✅ 〜たいものだ expresses a strong desire or wish, while 〜ものではない expresses rules, advice, or impossibility.
Pay attention to the context and the preceding verb/adjective. The meaning is completely different.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Can range from gentle advice to firm warning, depending on intonation and context. It implies adherence to common sense and social expectations (常識 – jou식i).
Social Situations: Often used in educational contexts, parenting, mentoring, or when discussing general societal rules and etiquette.
Regional Variations: Relatively standard across regions, though intonation might vary.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜ものではない vs. 〜べきではない
〜べきではない implies a stronger moral or logical obligation/recommendation not to do something. 〜ものではない is often based more on general social norms, common sense, or what is considered natural/expected.
When to use: Use 〜べきではない when discussing moral duties or strong recommendations. Use 〜ものではない for general advice based on common sense or stating what is not the “kind of thing” that should happen.
〜ものではない vs. 〜てはいけない
〜てはいけない is a direct prohibition, often from a position of authority or stating a specific rule. 〜ものではない is less of a direct command and more of a statement of a general principle or expected behavior.
When to use: Use 〜てはいけない for direct commands (e.g., “You must not enter”). Use 〜ものではない for advising against actions based on general wisdom or stating impossibilities.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects directly to the plain form (dictionary form) of verbs, plain form of い-adjectives, な-adjectives followed by な, and sometimes Nouns followed by である.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronunciation is standard. Focus on the particle の and は (pronounced wa).
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「もの」 as “a thing” or “a kind of thing”. So, 「〜ものではない」 means “It is not the kind of thing that should be done/happens”.
Vocabulary List
目上
meue
superior (in rank or age)
失礼
shitsurei
rude, impolite
口をきく
kuchi o kiku
to speak, to talk
他人
tanin
other people
秘密
himitsu
secret
むやみに
muyami ni
carelessly, thoughtlessly, recklessly
勝手に
of one’s own accord, arbitrarily, without permission
Kanji List
目
め
eye
上
うえ
above, upper
失
しつ
lose, err, error
礼
れい
gratitude, courtesy
口
くち
mouth
他
た
other
人
じん, にん, ひと
person
秘
ひ
secret
密
みつ
dense, secret, careful
勝
しょう, か.つ
win
手
しゅ, て
hand
Practice Exercises
次の文の（ ）に入れるのに最も適切なものを選びなさい。
人の（ ）をむやみに話すものではない。
気持ち
意見
秘密
経験
「そんな簡単なことで諦めるものではない」は、どういう意味ですか？
簡単なことでも諦めた方がいい
簡単なことはすぐに諦めてしまう
簡単なことだからこそ、諦めてはいけない
簡単なことなら諦めるのは仕方ない
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