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A is not necessary; it's OK if A is not done.
95
い い え 、 謝 る こと は ない よ 。 
No, there's no need to apologize.
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30
明日 は 卒 業 式 の 練 習 を 為 る の で 、 卒 業 生 以 外 は 来 る こと は ない 。 
Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony practice, so anyone who is not graduating does not need to come.
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20
あ ん な 奴 の 為 に 、 泣 く こと は ない 。 
There's no need to cry for someone like that.
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18
痛 っ ！ 何 も 殴 る こと ない で し ょ ！ 
OUCH! There's no need to hit me, right?
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20
此処 の 飲 み 代 は 俺 が 出 す か ら 、 君 達 は 払 う こと ない ぞ 。 
I'll take care of the drinks here, so you guys don't need to pay.
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44
お 母 さ ん に 隠 す こと は ない で し ょ う 、 言 っ て ご 覧 。 
It's not necessary to hide that from Mom. Try telling her.
0

Getting the sentences
Construction
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AVerb: Dictionary Form
こと
は
ない
Basic Examples:
手紙を書く事はない (no need to write a letter)

Similar grammar
~必要はない has the same meaning and usage as ことはない.
Where this grammar is found


Grammar usage notes

"A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar" also states that this phrase can mean something along the lines of "there is no possibility that~" (similar to はずはない). It depends on the situation which meaning is correct/ intended.
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柚姫ちゃん
Level: 1216
ことはない is an expression that has two primary purposes in Japanese. To convey that:

(1) there is 'no need for (A)'
or
(2) that '(A) never happens' ; 'there is no possibility/chance of (A)'

(Source: bunpro.jp)

Depending on the context or situation, ことはない can be interpreted as either 'no need' or 'no possibility'

Example:
(1) あんな男の言うことを聞くことはない。
(There's no need to listen to a man like that.)

(2) 彼女は今日の会議を忘れることはないと思います。
(I think that there is no possibility that she will forget today's meeting.)

(Source: DIJG p.146-147)
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0
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SkyLynx
Level: 148
機能：不必要

形：V辞書ことはない

意味：＿＿＿＿する必要はない/＿＿＿＿しなくてもいい。

※ 励ましたり、忠告したりするとき使う。
0
0
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猛眼
Level: 1580

Questions/Discussion

Is this normal to use in keigo or is it more of casual speech?
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0
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mm142857
Level: 601

Discussion about this grammar
This section has been archived, and no new posts can be added. Please use the discussion form(s) above.
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暖
Level: 1
As per happypuppy's comment on iterinfinitas' sentence, shouldn't 「~必要はない」 also be included in this section? It has the same meaning as the uses outlined above.
0
17 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Yea - means the same thing. I don't think I have a grammar page up for that yet, so I'll add one when I get a chance. A lot of the grammar still (unfortunately) isn't sufficiently linked with similar/same expressions, but it'll happen! I need to make a tool to let users suggest links so the burden isn't completely on me.
0
17 years ago
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暖
Level: 1
Couldn't 必要はない just be added to this page?
0
17 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
It wouldn't fit in that well with the way the grammar dictionary is organized on the server. I'll think about if there's a better way to handle it, but for now, the best is to have a separate page that links back to this.
0
17 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
It's been added.
0
17 years ago
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aileen
Level: 1
The second example sentence looks to me to have a completely different meaning than the other two and the explanation. Take a look:
「手で渡すことはないので、手紙で送って下さい。」
It's not something you can pass by hand, so please send it in a letter.

This example is defining what type of thing (こと) we're talking about, specifying that it's a thing that's unable to be passed by hand. We're restricting it, not saying it's okay to not do it.

So, if we're talking about "A is not necessary; it's OK if A is not done." or
必要はない things, this example belongs under a different heading, or perhaps over in the こと entry...

That said, it clicks well with the Japanese grammar in the (very shallow) depths of my brainpan. I understand the sentence perfectly well, even though it looks contrary to the other two examples and the English definition of the grammar point.
0
17 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Definitely shouldn't belong in here. Took it out, thanks!
0
17 years ago
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宮本勝利
Level: 1
First model sentence's English needs a little tweaking.

"No, there's no need to apology" should be "...apologize."
0
17 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Fixed, thanks!
0
17 years ago
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Javona
Level: 1
The first example sentence 「いいえ、誤ることはないよ。」 - I thought that 誤る (あやまる）means to make a mistake or to err or to mislead, whereas 謝る (あやまる) means to apologise. Can 誤る (あやまる) also mean apologise or should it be the other kanji?
2
14 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Agreed, and fixed. It was bound to the incorrect vocabulary term when it was first matched up.
0
14 years ago
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Nicolas2
Level: 31
In "店 長 も 先 輩も いない のに 、 真面目 に やる こと ない よ ", I don't understand noni. Shouldn't it be node?
0
7 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Is that a user sentence? If so, you can add a comment directly on it.
0
7 years ago
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Nicolas2
Level: 31
マイコー は 09月 11日, 2:56に
Is that a user sentence? If so, you can add a comment directly on it.
と言いました。
It's an example sentence for this grammar item, I think it was even the quiz question I got.
I found it in the dictionary, and from there I could copy a clean version (copying from the quiz added the extra spaces):
店長も先ぱいもいないのに、真面目にやることないよ
0
7 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 339
Thanks, fixed!
0
7 years ago


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