1.
not necessarily, not always
Used with negative verbs to indicate that something is not always or inevitably true.
高いものが必ずしも良いとは限らない。
Expensive things are not necessarily good.
必ずしも〜とは限らない = not necessarily ~
成功は必ずしも幸福を意味しない。
Success doesn't necessarily mean happiness.
天気予報は必ずしも当たらない。
Weather forecasts are not always accurate.
USAGE: 必ずしも is ALWAYS used with negative forms. It softens absolute statements by indicating exceptions are possible.
GRAMMAR PATTERN:
- 必ずしも〜ない (not necessarily ~)
- 必ずしも〜とは限らない (it's not necessarily the case that ~)
CONTRAST:
- 必ず - always, certainly (positive, absolute)
- 必ずしも〜ない - not necessarily (negative, allows exceptions)
NOTE: Using 必ずしも without a negative sounds unnatural.
Related Words
Contrast:
必ず (always (positive))