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JLPT N2Grammar
~わけではない

it does not mean that, it is not that

Beginner
15-20 min
very common
Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Partial denial or clarification.

Formation

[Sentence plain form] + わけではない

Examples

日本語が話せるわけではないが、少し分かる。

Nihongo ga hanaseru wake dewa nai ga, sukoshi wakaru.

It's not that I can speak Japanese, but I understand a little.

嫌いなわけではないが、好きでもない。

Kirai na wake dewa nai ga, suki demo nai.

It's not that I hate it, but I don't like it either.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Softer than わけがない (complete denial).

Study Tips

Memory Aids

  • わけではない = it's not the reason → not necessarily

Practice Tips

Use for partial denials and clarifications.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated:

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