Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~どころではない (〜Dokoro de wa nai)

~どころではない (〜Dokoro de wa nai)

Short explanation:

Not the time/place for; far from; not merely

Formation:

Verb-casual, past + どころではない, い-Adjective + どころではない, な-Adjective + どころではない, Noun + どころではない

Examples:

彼の失敗を笑うどころではない。我々も同じように失敗している。
Kare no shippai wo warau dokoro de wa nai. Wareware mo onaji you ni shippai shiteiru.
It's not the time to laugh at his mistakes. We're making the same mistakes ourselves.
病気で寝ている時は、遊ぶどころではない。
Byouki de neteiru toki wa, asobu dokoro de wa nai.
When I'm sick and in bed, it's far from the time to play.
試験が近いので、映画を見るどころではない。
Shiken ga chikai node, eiga wo miru dokoro de wa nai.
Since the exam is coming up, it's not the time to watch movies.
仕事が忙しいので、旅行なんて考えられるどころではない。
Shigoto ga isogashii node, ryokou nante kangaerareru dokoro de wa nai.
I'm so busy with work that I can't even think about taking a trip.

Long explanation:

The ~どころではない grammar point is used to express that a certain situation is not the time or place for something, or that the matter is much more serious than previously thought, resulting in the initial action being inappropriate or insignificant in comparison. It can be used with verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, or nouns.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~どころではない (〜Dokoro de wa nai)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~どころではない (〜Dokoro de wa nai)

~どころではない (〜Dokoro de wa nai)

1. Introduction

The grammar point ~どころではない (〜dokoro de wa nai) is an expression used to indicate that something is far from being possible due to certain circumstances. It conveys a strong denial or emphasizes that the situation is not suitable for the intended action.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

  • Not the time/occasion for ~
  • Far from ~
  • Impossible to ~

Structure

Formation Example
Verb (dictionary form) + どころではない 行くどころではない
Noun + どころではない 休暇どころではない

Detailed Explanation

The expression ~どころではない is used when the speaker wants to stress that the current situation makes it impossible to do something. It is often due to pressing circumstances, lack of resources, or overwhelming emotions that prevent the action.

  • Verb (dictionary form) + どころではない: Indicates that there is no way to perform the action of the verb.

  • Noun + どころではない: Indicates that the situation is far from being the noun in question.


3. Comparative Analysis

Similar Grammar Points

Grammar Point Usage
~どころか On the contrary; far from
~わけがない There is no way; it's impossible
~ではいられない Cannot help but; cannot resist doing
Differences:
  • ~どころか is used to indicate that reality is the opposite of what was expected.
  • ~わけがない expresses strong denial, meaning "there is no reason for" or "it's impossible."
  • ~ではいられない shows that one cannot resist doing something, often due to emotions.

4. Examples in Context

Example Sentences

  1. 仕事が忙しくて、旅行どころではない。 Shigoto ga isogashikute, ryokō dokoro de wa nai. "I'm so busy with work that a trip is out of the question."
  2. 風邪で寝込んでいて、パーティーに参加するどころではない。 Kaze de nekonde ite, pātī ni sanka suru dokoro de wa nai. "I've caught a cold and am bedridden; there's no way I can attend the party."
  3. 給料が減って、新しい車を買うどころではない。 Kyūryō ga hette, atarashii kuruma o kau dokoro de wa nai. "My salary has decreased, so buying a new car is out of the question."
  4. 地震の被害で、それどころではない状況だ。 Jishin no higai de, sore dokoro de wa nai jōkyō da. "Due to the earthquake damage, we're in no situation to think about that."
  5. 雨漏りがひどくて、掃除どころではなかった。 Amamori ga hidokute, sōji dokoro de wa nakatta. "The leaks were so bad that cleaning was out of the question."

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese culture, expressing inability due to circumstances is often done politely and indirectly. Using ~どころではない allows the speaker to convey the impossibility of an action without direct refusal, which aligns with the Japanese communication style that values harmony and avoiding confrontation.

Idiomatic Expressions

  • それどころではない Used to express that the situation is too serious for something else to be considered.
    • 彼は忙しくてそれどころではない。 Kare wa isogashikute sore dokoro de wa nai. "He's too busy for that."

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Using the wrong verb form: Remember to use the dictionary form of the verb before どころではない.
    • Incorrect: 行きたいどころではない。

    • Correct: 行くどころではない。

  • Confusing with ~どころか: Don't mix up ~どころではない (cannot do) with ~どころか (far from).
    • 彼は助けるどころか、邪魔をした。 "Far from helping, he hindered."

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Think of どころ as "place" or "occasion," and ではない as "is not." So, "It is not the place/occasion for..."
  • Practice with Context: Create sentences based on your own experiences where you couldn't do something due to circumstances.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~どころではない is used to express that something is impossible under the current circumstances.
  • It emphasizes the severity or urgency of a situation that prevents an action.
  • Formed with Verb (dictionary form) + どころではない or Noun + どころではない.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. How do you say "It's not the time to be watching movies"? Answer: 映画を観るどころではない。
  2. Which verb form is used before どころではない? Answer: Dictionary form.
  3. True or False: ~どころではない can be used to express that you cannot resist doing something. Answer: False.

Feel free to practice by creating your own sentences using ~どころではない to solidify your understanding!

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Public Alpha version Open Source (GitHub). This site is currently undergoing active development. You may (will) encounter bugs, inconsistencies, or limited functionality. Lots of sentences might not sound natural. We are progressively addressing these issues with native speakers.


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