Meaning & usage
必ずしも expresses that something is not necessarily or not always true, softening a denial of a general assumption. It is an adverb placed before verbs, adjectives, or noun + copula phrases, and it must pair with a negative ending like ない, ではない, とは限らない, or わけではない. Using it with an affirmative predicate is incorrect, so the final verb or adjective must be in a negative form.
Example sentences 8
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その点について私は必ずしもあなたに同意出来ません。
I can't necessarily agree with you on that point.
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行間を読むことは必ずしも易しくない。
It is not always easy to read between the lines.
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金持ちが必ずしも貧しい者より幸福とは限らない。
The rich are not always happier than the poor.
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天気予報は必ずしも当てになるとは限らない。
The weather forecast is not necessarily reliable.
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彼女は必ずしもすべての質問に答えたわけではない。
She did not answer all the questions.
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人は必ずしも見かけ通りではない。
A man is not always what he seems.
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医者は必ずしも長生きをしない。
Doctors do not always live long.
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ほえる犬が必ずしもかみつくわけではない。
Barking dogs don't always bite.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 5 past exam questions.
