JLPT N3
わけではない
It's not that ~
Structure
Plain form わけではない
How it works
This grammar point is used to partially deny a logical assumption or an expected conclusion. It indicates that while a certain situation might seem to be the case, it is not entirely true or there are exceptions. It is often preceded by 'totalizing' words like 'always', 'everyone', or 'everything'.
Examples
日本料理が嫌いなわけではないが、納豆は食べられません。
It's not that I dislike Japanese food, but I can't eat natto.
高い料理がいつも美味しいわけではない。
Expensive food isn't always delicious.
一人でいるのが好きなわけではないが、一人の時間は大切だ。
It’s not that I like being alone, but my alone time is important.
Common mistakes
Don't confuse this with 'わけがない', which means 'it is impossible that'. 'わけではない' is a soft partial denial, whereas 'わけがない' is a strong, absolute denial of possibility.
Tip
Think of this as the Japanese version of 'It's not that...' or 'It doesn't mean that...'. It is very useful for being polite and avoiding a blunt 'No'.
More JLPT N3 grammar
See わけではない in real Japanese
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