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一概に〜ない

you can't generalise, not across the board

一概に + 〜とは言えない / 〜できない

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一概に with a negative says that you can't make a sweeping, one-size-fits-all statement: どちらが正しいとは一概に言えない, "you can't simply say which one is right".

The ending is nearly always 言えない, 言い切れない, 決めつけられない or 否定できない. It's a careful, balanced expression, typical of essays, interviews and discussions of complex topics.

It's close to 必ずしも〜ない ("not necessarily"). The difference is focus: 一概に is about generalising, while 必ずしも is about whether something is always true.

Don't confuse it with 一気に, "in one go", or 一緒に, "together". The kanji mean "one" and "general outline", so it's literally "in one broad stroke".

Examples

  • どちらが正ただしいとは一概いちがいに言いえない。

    You can't simply say which one is right.

  • 若者わかものが本ほんを読よまないとは一概いちがいに言いえない。

    You can't say across the board that young people don't read.

  • 安やすいものが悪わるいとは一概いちがいに決きめつけられない。

    You can't just assume cheap things are bad.

  • 原因げんいんがこれだとは一概いちがいに言いい切きれない。

    You can't state flatly that this is the cause.

  • 田舎いなかと都会とかいのどちらが住すみやすいかは、一概いちがいには言いえない。

    Whether the country or the city is easier to live in is hard to say in general.

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