〜までもない / 〜までもなく
made mo nai / made mo naku
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
there is no need to …; needless to say …
〜までもない means "there is no need to go as far as doing X", because the matter is too small or too obvious: 病院に行くまでもない (no need to go to the hospital). The adverbial form までもなく is used in the set phrase 言うまでもなく (needless to say).
Both speech and writing, neutral register. Common when reassuring someone that a step is unnecessary, and in essays with 言うまでもなく. Compare には及ばない, which is more polite and often directed at the listener.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vる + までもないVる + までもなく、…Set phrase: 言うまでもない / 言うまでもなくOften with わざわざ・改めて
Visual diagram
〜なければならない
necessary
〜なくてもいい
not required
〜までもない
not even worth going that far: unnecessary because trivial or obvious
〜なければならない
necessary
〜なくてもいい
not required
〜までもない
not even worth going that far: unnecessary because trivial or obvious
Natural examples
これぐらいのけがなら、病院に行くまでもない。
これぐらいのけがなら、びょういんにいくまでもない。
For a minor injury like this, there is no need to go to the hospital.
The injury is minor, so no need to go as far as the hospital.
言うまでもなく、健康が一番大切だ。
いうまでもなく、けんこうがいちばんたいせつだ。
Needless to say, health is the most important thing.
言うまでもなく: a set phrase to introduce something obvious.
わざわざ確認するまでもなく、答えは明らかだ。
わざわざかくにんするまでもなく、こたえはあきらかだ。
Without needing to check, the answer is obvious.
わざわざ確認するまでもなく: the answer is obvious without checking.
そんなことは、改めて説明するまでもないだろう。
そんなことは、あらためてせつめいするまでもないだろう。
There is no need to explain that again, surely.
改めて often accompanies the pattern.
彼が優秀なのは、言うまでもないことだ。
かれがゆうしゅうなのは、いうまでもないことだ。
That he is excellent goes without saying.
言うまでもないことだ as a predicate.
Similar grammar and the difference
Also "no need to", but polite and used to decline the listener's trouble (ご心配には及びません). Compare side by side
Everyday "no need to" (急ぐことはない). までもない adds the nuance "not even worth that much". Compare side by side
Different meaning: "I will simply do X". Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 病院に行くまでもなく、家で寝た。
- ✓
- 病院に行くまでもないので、家で寝た。
- Why
- までもなく is mainly used in 言うまでもなく; for a reason, use までもないので.
- ✗
- 言わないまでもなく、彼は優秀だ。
- ✓
- 言うまでもなく、彼は優秀だ。
- Why
- The verb before までもない must be affirmative dictionary form.
- ✗
- ご心配するまでもありません。
- ✓
- ご心配には及びません。
- Why
- Polite refusals of the listener's concern use には及びません.
The nuance is "this is too small / too obvious to bother": it can sound dismissive if aimed at the listener. 言うまでもなく is the most frequent form; learn it as an adverb meaning "needless to say". わざわざ, 改めて and 今さら are common companions.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- A minor matter + Vる + blank at the sentence end → までもない.
- 言う + blank + a clause → までもなく.
- Distractors: には及ばない (polite), までだ (resolve), ことはない. Choose までもない when the reason is triviality or obviousness.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜までもない / 〜までもなく mean?
there is no need to …; needless to say …. 〜までもない means "there is no need to go as far as doing X", because the matter is too small or too obvious: 病院に行くまでもない (no need to go to the hospital). The adverbial form までもなく is used in the set phrase 言うまでもなく (needless to say).
How do you form 〜までもない / 〜までもなく?
Vる + までもない / Vる + までもなく、… / Set phrase: 言うまでもない / 言うまでもなく / Often with わざわざ・改めて. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜までもない / 〜までもなく used?
Both speech and writing, neutral register. Common when reassuring someone that a step is unnecessary, and in essays with 言うまでもなく. Compare には及ばない, which is more polite and often directed at the listener.
What is the difference between 〜までもない / 〜までもなく and 〜には及ばない?
Also "no need to", but polite and used to decline the listener's trouble (ご心配には及びません).
What is the difference between 〜までもない / 〜までもなく and 〜ことはない?
Everyday "no need to" (急ぐことはない). までもない adds the nuance "not even worth that much".
What is a common mistake with 〜までもない / 〜までもなく?
Wrong: 病院に行くまでもなく、家で寝た。 Right: 病院に行くまでもないので、家で寝た。 までもなく is mainly used in 言うまでもなく; for a reason, use までもないので.
Quick check
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