immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜どころではない

no time for, out of the question

Noun / Verb dictionary form + どころではない (casual: どころじゃない)

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

どころではない says the situation is far too serious or busy for something: 忙しくて、旅行どころではない, "I'm so busy that a trip is out of the question".

The first half usually gives the reason (a deadline, an illness, worry, crowds), and the noun or verb before どころではない is what's been pushed aside: 遊んでいるどころではない, "this is no time to be playing around".

It works in the past for things that couldn't be enjoyed: 人が多くて桜どころではなかった, "it was so crowded we couldn't enjoy the blossoms at all".

In speech, it's どころじゃない. Compare どころか, which needs a second half; どころではない ends the sentence.

Examples

  • 忙いそがしくて、旅行りょこうどころではない。

    I'm so busy that a trip is out of the question.

  • 試験前しけんまえで、遊あそんでいるどころではない。

    The exam's coming up, so this is no time to be playing around.

  • 熱ねつがあって、仕事しごとどころではなかった。

    I had a fever, so work was out of the question.

  • 花見はなみに行いったが、人ひとが多おおくて桜さくらどころではなかった。

    We went to see the cherry blossoms, but it was so crowded we couldn't enjoy them at all.

  • 心配しんぱいで、食事しょくじどころじゃないよ。

    I'm so worried I can't even think about eating.

Related