Japanese word

必ずしも

Pronunciation

Romajikanarazushimo

Meaning

  • adverbnot necessarily

Example

必ずしも同じではありません。kanara zu shi mo ona ji de wa a ri ma se n

They are not necessarily the same.

Illustration for 必ずしも (not necessarily)

More examples

新しい方法が必ずしも最善とは限りません。atara shi i hō hō ga kanara zu shi mo sai zen to wa kagi ri ma se n

A new method is not necessarily the best.

Core concept

It marks a statement as limited rather than absolute, leaving room for exceptions or a different result.

Common phrases

  • 必ずしも同じとは限らないkanara zu shi mo ona ji to wa kagi ra na i

    not necessarily the same

  • 必ずしも簡単ではないkanara zu shi mo kan tan de wa na i

    not necessarily easy

  • 必ずしも悪いわけではないkanara zu shi mo waru i wa ke de wa na i

    not necessarily bad

Similar words

一概にichigaini: It treats a claim as broadly true without considering each case.
あながちanagachi: It shows that something may not be completely false or impossible.

Definition in Japanese

常にそうであるとは限らず、例外もありうることを表す。多くは否定の表現とともに用いる。tsune ni sō de a ru to wa kagi ra zu rei gai mo a ri u ru ko to o arawa su ō ku wa hi tei no hyō gen to to mo ni mochi i ru

Word origin

The word 必ずしも (kanarazushimo) joins 必ず (kanarazu, "surely") with しも (shimo, "even"); its usual negative use gives it the sense of "not necessarily."

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 必ずしも (kanarazushimo) often softens a disagreement because it rejects an absolute claim rather than simply calling the claim false.

Other meanings

  • not alwaysadverb
  • not entirelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word