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Lesson 66 of 171

〜にとどまらず

ni todomarazu

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

not limited to …; extending beyond …

〜にとどまらず means "does not stop at X but spreads further". とどまる is "to stay within limits", so the phrase says the effect or scope went past X to a wider area: 国内にとどまらず海外にも (not only domestically but overseas too). The second half almost always has も or さえ.

Formal written Japanese: news reports, company profiles, academic writing. The typical topic is the spread of influence, damage, activity or popularity. In conversation, だけでなく is used instead.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • N + にとどまらず、… も / にも / さえ
  • Vる + (の / こと) + にとどまらず
  • Formal continuative: 〜にとどまらず、〜に及ぶ / 広がる

Visual diagram

  1. Step 1被害は国内で起きたthe damage occurred domestically (limited scope)
  2. Step 2被害は国内にとどまらなかったthe damage did not stay within the country
  3. Step 3被害は国内にとどまらず、海外にも広がったthe damage was not limited to the country but spread overseas too

Natural examples

  1. 被害は国内にとどまらず、海外にも広がった。

    ひがいはこくないにとどまらず、かいがいにもひろがった。

    The damage was not confined to the country but spread overseas too.

    The scope spreads from a narrow area (国内) to a wider one (海外). 広がった is a typical verb.

  2. 彼の活躍は音楽にとどまらず、映画や文学にも及んでいる。

    かれのかつやくはおんがくにとどまらず、えいがやぶんがくにもおよんでいる。

    His achievements are not limited to music but extend to film and literature.

    Activities not limited to one field: music → film and literature. Note にも及んでいる.

  3. この技術は工業製品にとどまらず、医療にも応用されている。

    このぎじゅつはこうぎょうせいひんにとどまらず、いりょうにもおうようされている。

    This technology is applied not only to industrial products but also to medicine.

    Application spreads from industry to medicine. Very common in technology writing.

  4. SNSの影響は若者にとどまらず、高齢者の生活にも及んでいる。

    SNSのえいきょうはわかものにとどまらず、こうれいしゃのせいかつにもおよんでいる。

    The influence of social media is not limited to the young but reaches the lives of the elderly too.

    影響 + に及ぶ is the standard pairing.

  5. 彼女は単に歌うにとどまらず、作詞や作曲も手がけている。

    かのじょはたんにうたうにとどまらず、さくしやさっきょくもてがけている。

    She does not merely sing; she also writes lyrics and composes.

    Vる + にとどまらず; 単に often introduces the narrow item.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    被害は国内にとどまらず、海外に広がった。
    ✓
    被害は国内にとどまらず、海外にも広がった。
    Why
    The second clause needs も (or さえ) to show the wider scope is added to the narrow one.
  • ✗
    彼は音楽にとどまらないで、映画も作る。
    ✓
    彼は音楽にとどまらず、映画も作る。
    Why
    The set continuative is とどまらず; ないで sounds conversational and breaks the formal pattern.
  • ✗
    この店は安いにとどまらず、おいしい。
    ✓
    この店は安いだけでなく、おいしい。
    Why
    にとどまらず takes nouns or verbs about scope and influence, not simple adjectives.

The narrow item is often introduced with 単に or ただ, and the wider item is followed by も・にも・さえ. Typical verbs in the second half: 広がる・及ぶ・影響を与える・波及する. It is close in spirit to English "goes beyond": その活動は趣味の域にとどまらない = it goes beyond a hobby.

JLPT N1 tips

On the exam

  • Look for も / にも in the second half and a spread from small to large (国内 → 海外, 若者 → 高齢者): にとどまらず fits.
  • Distractors are のみならず, はおろか and にひきかえ. Both のみならず and にとどまらず can be correct in meaning; the exam usually makes only one fit the form (e.g. after Vる).
  • In 並べ替え, put the narrow noun + にとどまらず first, then the wider noun + にも, then the verb.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜にとどまらず mean?

not limited to …; extending beyond …. 〜にとどまらず means "does not stop at X but spreads further". とどまる is "to stay within limits", so the phrase says the effect or scope went past X to a wider area: 国内にとどまらず海外にも (not only domestically but overseas too). The second half almost always has も or さえ.

How do you form 〜にとどまらず?

N + にとどまらず、… も / にも / さえ / Vる + (の / こと) + にとどまらず / Formal continuative: 〜にとどまらず、〜に及ぶ / 広がる. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜にとどまらず used?

Formal written Japanese: news reports, company profiles, academic writing. The typical topic is the spread of influence, damage, activity or popularity. In conversation, だけでなく is used instead.

What is the difference between 〜にとどまらず and 〜のみならず?

Formal "not only". Almost interchangeable, but にとどまらず stresses a spread beyond a boundary, while のみならず simply adds.

What is the difference between 〜にとどまらず and 〜ばかりか / 〜ばかりでなく?

Everyday "not only … but also"; less formal and does not imply a widening scope.

What is a common mistake with 〜にとどまらず?

Wrong: 被害は国内にとどまらず、海外に広がった。 Right: 被害は国内にとどまらず、海外にも広がった。 The second clause needs も (or さえ) to show the wider scope is added to the narrow one.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

この問題は一企業の不祥事(  )、業界全体の信用を揺るがした。