〜には及ばない
niwa oyobanai
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
there is no need to …; cannot match …
及ぶ means "to reach". 〜には及ばない has two uses. (1) Polite refusal of trouble: "there is no need to X" (ご心配には及びません = please don't worry). (2) Comparison: "cannot reach the level of X" (彼女には及ばない = I'm no match for her). Sense 1 is about actions; sense 2 is about ability.
Sense 1 is polite formal speech: telling a customer or superior that they need not go to the trouble (お礼・心配・お越しいただく). Sense 2 appears in both speech and writing, often with 到底 or とても for emphasis, and expresses modesty or admiration.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vる + には及ばない (行く・心配する・驚く)ご/お + N + には及びません (ご心配・お礼・ご足労)N(person/thing) + には(到底)及ばない = cannot matchPolite: 〜には及びません
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Meaning | Typical form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. No need to | politely declining trouble | Vる / ご+N + には及ばない | わざわざ来るには及ばない |
| 2. Cannot match | ability falls short | N + には(到底)及ばない | 彼女の英語には及ばない |
Natural examples
わざわざお越しいただくには及びません。
わざわざおこしいただくにはおよびません。
There is no need for you to go to the trouble of coming.
Sense 1: polite refusal of the trouble of coming. わざわざ often appears.
ご心配には及びません。すぐに回復します。
ごしんぱいにはおよびません。すぐにかいふくします。
There is no need to worry. I will recover soon.
ご心配には及びません is a set phrase reassuring someone.
英語の発音では、彼女には到底及ばない。
えいごのはつおんでは、かのじょにはとうていおよばない。
In English pronunciation, I cannot come close to her.
Sense 2: cannot reach her level. 到底 strengthens it.
その程度のことで驚くには及ばない。
そのていどのことでおどろくにはおよばない。
There is no need to be surprised at something like that.
Sense 1 with a verb of reaction (驚く・慌てる).
私の腕前では、プロには到底及ばない。
わたしのうでまえでは、プロにはとうていおよばない。
With my skill, I cannot come close to a professional.
Sense 2; modest self-assessment.
Similar grammar and the difference
"No need to" because the matter is trivial or obvious. までもない is neutral; には及ばない is more polite and often addressed to the listener. Compare side by side
"No need to (be surprised / praise)" because the reaction is not warranted. Judges appropriateness rather than politely declining. Compare side by side
Everyday "there is no need to" (心配することはない). Same meaning as sense 1, plainer register. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- ご心配に及びません。
- ✓
- ご心配には及びません。
- Why
- The set phrase includes は: には及ばない.
- ✗
- 彼は私には及ばない。(意味:私は彼にかなわない)
- ✓
- 私は彼には及ばない。
- Why
- X は Y には及ばない means X falls short of Y. Keep the order straight: the weaker one is the subject.
- ✗
- 手伝うには及びませんか。
- ✓
- 手伝いましょうか。
- Why
- には及ばない is what the receiver says to decline; do not use it to offer help.
Sense 1 is a courteous way to say "don't bother" to someone of higher status; it does not sound cold. Sense 2 often takes 到底・とても・遠く for emphasis: 遠く及ばない = nowhere near. The affirmative 及ぶ is used in the pattern 〜に及ぶ (extend to), which is a different grammar.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- ご心配 / お礼 / わざわざ + blank at the end of a polite reply: には及びません.
- Distractors: までもない, に当たらない, ことはない. If the sentence is a polite reply to an offer, choose には及ばない.
- For the comparison sense, look for 到底 or a skill noun (腕前・英語力) before the blank.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜には及ばない mean?
there is no need to …; cannot match …. 及ぶ means "to reach". 〜には及ばない has two uses. (1) Polite refusal of trouble: "there is no need to X" (ご心配には及びません = please don't worry). (2) Comparison: "cannot reach the level of X" (彼女には及ばない = I'm no match for her). Sense 1 is about actions; sense 2 is about ability.
How do you form 〜には及ばない?
Vる + には及ばない (行く・心配する・驚く) / ご/お + N + には及びません (ご心配・お礼・ご足労) / N(person/thing) + には(到底)及ばない = cannot match / Polite: 〜には及びません. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜には及ばない used?
Sense 1 is polite formal speech: telling a customer or superior that they need not go to the trouble (お礼・心配・お越しいただく). Sense 2 appears in both speech and writing, often with 到底 or とても for emphasis, and expresses modesty or admiration.
What is the difference between 〜には及ばない and 〜までもない / 〜までもなく?
"No need to" because the matter is trivial or obvious. までもない is neutral; には及ばない is more polite and often addressed to the listener.
What is the difference between 〜には及ばない and 〜に(は)当たらない?
"No need to (be surprised / praise)" because the reaction is not warranted. Judges appropriateness rather than politely declining.
What is a common mistake with 〜には及ばない?
Wrong: ご心配に及びません。 Right: ご心配には及びません。 The set phrase includes は: には及ばない.
Quick check
A「お見舞いに伺いましょうか。」 B「いえ、わざわざお越しいただく( )。」