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JLPT N2 Grammar

ことではない

N2Obligation

N2 · Obligation · verb辞书形 + ことではない

is not something to; does not call for

verb辞书形 + ことではない

Used to say that a certain reaction or action is not necessary, often to reassure someone or correct an overreaction.

Compared with ものではない, this focuses more on judging a concrete matter than stating a social norm.

一度失敗したくらいで、あきらめることではない。

Failing once is not something that calls for giving up.

Do not read it as a simple noun phrase; sentence-final ことではない judges whether the preceding action is called for.

こと points to the matter itself, and the phrase denies that such a reaction is necessary.

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