~というものではない— Not Necessarily So
Partially denies a statement, meaning something is not necessarily true or not always the case. It rejects an oversimplified belief, suggesting the matter is more nuanced. The variant というものでもない softens the denial slightly to 'it isn't exactly that either'.
Grammar path · 練習
Practice this in the path
A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.
Structure · 形
[Plain form] + というものではない / というものでもない
Examples · 例文
お金があれば幸せだ、というものではない。
Okane ga areba shiawase da, to iu mono dewa nai.
It's not necessarily the case that having money makes you happy.
幸せだ + というものではない rejects the oversimplified belief.
謝れば済むというものではない。
Ayamareba sumu to iu mono dewa nai.
It's not as if apologizing settles everything.
済む + というものではない denies that an apology alone is enough.
高ければ良いというものでもない。
Takakereba yoi to iu mono demo nai.
It isn't necessarily true that expensive means good, either.
良い + というものでもない softly denies the assumption with でも.
Usage notes · 注意
- Function: partial denial of an over-generalized claim; 'not always / not necessarily'.
- Often preceded by a conditional (ば/たら/と) presenting the belief being denied.
- でもない form softens the rejection slightly.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ~というものではない is tested against.
vsとはかぎらない
とはかぎらない denies that something is always true from a factual standpoint, while というものではない rejects a belief/reasoning as an oversimplification.
vsわけではない
わけではない denies a conclusion one might draw, whereas というものではない specifically denies that a stated idea is a valid general principle.
More modal expressions
Study Japanese grammar on LenGaki
Everything on this page, ready to study
- 7,788 JLPT vocabulary words, N5 through N1, with readings and audio (N5 free)
- 2,057 kanji with on'yomi, kun'yomi and stroke-order practice
- 445 grammar points with examples and commonly-confused comparisons
- Full-length N5 and N4 mock exams, timed, with real listening audio (N5 sets 1 and 2 free)

Get the Android app
Your XP, streak and roadmap sync between this website and the app, which adds offline study and home-screen widgets on your phone.
See the app ›