～ことはない — No Need To
Tells someone there is no need to do something, or no reason to feel a certain way — 'you don't have to ~'. It is often used to reassure or comfort, downplaying a worry. The action is presented as unnecessary rather than forbidden.
Structure
[Verb dictionary form] + ことはない
Examples
あなたが謝ることはないよ。
Anata ga ayamaru koto wa nai yo.
There's no need for you to apologize.
謝る + ことはない = 'no need to apologize'
そんなに心配することはない。
Sonna ni shinpai suru koto wa nai.
There's no need to worry that much.
心配する + ことはない reassures the listener
急ぐことはない、時間はたっぷりある。
Isogu koto wa nai, jikan wa tappuri aru.
There's no need to hurry — we have plenty of time.
急ぐ + ことはない = 'no reason to rush'
• Attaches to the dictionary form of the verb. • Commonly used to comfort or reassure; softened further with よ/から. • Do not confuse with 〜たことがない (never have done), which uses the past tense + がない.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～ことはない is tested against.
vs なくてもいい
なくてもいい gives neutral permission not to do something ('you may skip it'); ことはない more actively asserts there's no need/reason, often to reassure.
vs べきではない
べきではない says one shouldn't do something (it's wrong); ことはない merely says it's unnecessary, not that it's improper.
More modal expressions
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