必(かなら)ずしも

かならずしも
adverb
not necessarily, not always
1. not necessarily, not always
Used with negative verbs to indicate that something is not always or inevitably true.
高(たか)いものが必(かなら)ずしも良(よ)いとは限(かぎ)らない。
Expensive things are not necessarily good.
必ずしも〜とは限らない = not necessarily ~
成功(せいこう)は必(かなら)ずしも幸福(こうふく)を意味(いみ)しない。
Success doesn't necessarily mean happiness.
天気(てんき)予報(よほう)は必(かなら)ずしも当(あ)たらない。
Weather forecasts are not always accurate.

USAGE: 必(かなら)ずしも is ALWAYS used with negative forms. It softens absolute statements by indicating exceptions are possible.

GRAMMAR PATTERN:

  • 必(かなら)ずしも〜ない (not necessarily ~)
  • 必(かなら)ずしも〜とは限(かぎ)らない (it's not necessarily the case that ~)

CONTRAST:

  • 必(かなら)ず - always, certainly (positive, absolute)
  • 必(かなら)ずしも〜ない - not necessarily (negative, allows exceptions)

NOTE: Using 必(かなら)ずしも without a negative sounds unnatural.

Related Words

Contrast: 必(かなら)ず (always (positive))
general
Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.5.28 3:39
03500/03813_kanarazushimo