modality N1 uncommon writtenpolite
〜では済まない — it won't end with just ~
〜では済まない ・ ではすまない
Meaning
- it won't end with just ~ / you can't get away with merely ~ — the situation demands more than the named, insufficient response
Key sentence
謝るだけでは済まない問題だ。
This is a problem that an apology alone won't settle.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun / verb + では済まない (also 〜では済まされない) | N／V + では済まない |
Examples
壊したのなら、弁償しないでは済まないだろう。
If you broke it, you won't get away without paying for it.
もはや冗談では済まない事態になった。
It's reached a point where it can no longer be passed off as a joke.
Easily confused with
ずにはすまない ずにはすまない says one *can't avoid* doing something necessary. では済まない says the named response is *not enough* and more will be demanded. て済むことではない て済むことではない attaches to a て-form action and frames it as a 'matter' too grave to settle that way. では済まない attaches to a noun/state and stresses 'merely X won't do'. どころではない どころではない rules out the very situation for ~ ('this is no time for ~'). では済まない grants the action but says it falls short.
Notes
- 〜では済まされない is a stronger, passive-flavoured variant ('cannot be allowed to end with just ~').
See 〜では済まない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜では済まない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.