immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜ことはない

there's no need to

Verb dictionary form + ことはない

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

ことはない tells someone there's no need to do something, usually to reassure them: そんなに心配することはないよ, "there's no need to worry so much".

It's warmer than 必要はない, which is more factual, and it's common when comforting or encouraging someone: 謝ることはありません, "there's no need to apologise".

The polite form is ことはありません. In casual speech, は often drops: 心配することない.

Don't confuse it with ことがない, which after a dictionary form means "never" (and after a た-form, "have never"). The particle makes all the difference: ことはない is "no need", ことがない is "never".

Examples

  • そんなに心配しんぱいすることはないよ。

    There's no need to worry so much.

  • 急いそぐことはない。時間じかんはたっぷりある。

    No need to hurry. There's plenty of time.

  • わざわざ来くることはないですよ。

    There's no need to come all this way.

  • 謝あやまることはありません。あなたは悪わるくない。

    There's no need to apologise. You did nothing wrong.

  • 一回失敗いっかいしっぱいしたくらいで、落おち込こむことはない。

    There's no need to get down over one failure.

Related