Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
どころか contrasts an expectation with a much lower reality, showing that even a basic level is not met (本を読むどころか、新聞も読まない). どころではない rejects a suggestion outright because the situation makes it impossible or unthinkable, often as a response (それどころじゃない). The former compares two levels; the latter dismisses an idea due to circumstances.
- どころか Use どころか when you want to say things are far below expectations, not even reaching a basic level.
- どころではない Use どころではない when rejecting a suggestion because the situation makes it impossible or unthinkable.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| どころか dokoroka | Far from/Let alone | N3 |
| どころではない dokorodehanai | Far from ~ / cannot afford to | N2 |
どころか dokoroka
Far from/Let alone
Far from; not just; even | A conjunction indicating that someone/something is very far from an expected state.
-
あの人は本を読むどころか、新聞も読まない。
He is far from reading books; he doesn't even read newspapers.
-
ジムは日本語の会話が出来ないどころか、簡単なあいさつも出来ない。
Jim is not just unable to converse in Japanese; he cannot even make simple greetings.
どころではない dokorodehanai
Far from ~ / cannot afford to
Cannot; be simply impossible; simply don’t/doesn’t have time; be far from ~; anything but ~; no way; far from; be out of question | A phrase indicating that an action/state is simply impossible due to an adverse situation.
-
A:おい、今晩、飲みに行こうか。B:それどころじゃないんだ。妻が入院したんだ。
A: Hey, why don't we go drinking tonight? B: No way. My wife has been hospitalized.
-
A:妻：あなた、この週末に 熱海の温泉にでも行かない？ B:夫：それどころじゃないんだよ。原稿の締め切りが来週の月曜日なんだ。
Wife: Honey, why don't we go to the hot springs in Atami this weekend? Husband: No way! The deadline for the manuscript is next Monday.
どころか and どころではない are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.