JLPT N3 grammar
ものではない — Meaning & Examples
A gentle "you shouldn't" — a soft, near-proverbial social norm, gentler than べきではない. 人の悪口を言うものではない.
Practice questions
Try this question on ものではない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「人の悪口を言うものではない」 compared to 「言うべきではない」 is?
- Identical in every way
- Only used for children
- A stronger command
- A softer, more proverbial social norm rather than a personal judgement
Show answer
Answer: A softer, more proverbial social norm rather than a personal judgement
ものではない frames it as a shared social norm — "that's simply not done" — gentler than the personal judgement of べきではない.
Practise ものではない in the free app
This point is part of the “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ
Frequently asked questions
What does ものではない mean?
A gentle "you shouldn't" — a soft, near-proverbial social norm, gentler than べきではない. 人の悪口を言うものではない.
Is ものではない on the JLPT N3 test?
ものではない is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ものではない?
Open the “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.