〜わけではない
JLPT N3:it's not that
Softens or partly denies a statement: "it's not that…", "it doesn't mean that…".
How to form it
- Put the plain form before わけではない: 嫌いなわけではない (it's not that I dislike it).
- な-adjectives take な. Casual speech uses わけじゃない.
- With 全部, いつも or 必ず, it means "not all" or "not always": 全部分かるわけではない (I don't understand all of it).
Examples
嫌いなわけではないが、好きでもない。
It's not that I dislike it, but I don't like it either.
彼が悪いわけではない。
It's not that he's to blame.
Similar meaning
- 〜とは限らないnot necessarily
"Not necessarily": rejects a general assumption.
Same form, different meaning
- 〜わけがないthere's no way
わけがない: "there's no way", a complete denial.