JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 19

~ことはない

There is no need to do something

You’ll be able to reassure someone that an action is unnecessary in the present situation.

Illustration of the scene described by Since we have plenty of time, there is no need to rush like that.
Read it first

時間じかんに余裕よゆうがあるから、そんなに急いそぐことはないよ。

jikan ni yoyuu ga aru kara, sonna ni isogu koto wa nai yo.

What do you think this sentence means?

Since we have plenty of time, there is no need to rush like that.

Why it means that

Reassure that an action is not necessary

~ことはない tells someone that an action is unnecessary ("there is no need to...", "you don't have to..."). It is frequently used to reassure or calm someone down.

Examples

まだ使つかえるから、新あたらしいのを買かうことはない。

mada tsukaeru kara, atarashii no o kau koto wa nai.

It still works, so there's no need to buy a new one.

簡単かんたんなテストだから、緊張きんちょうすることはないよ。

kantan na tesuto da kara, kinchou suru koto wa nai yo.

It's an easy test, so there's no need to be nervous.

How it is built

Attach ことはない to dictionary form verbs

Attach ことはない directly to the dictionary form of a verb to declare that doing so is unnecessary. Often ends with conversational particles like よ or と思おもう.

verb (dictionary form)+ことはない
Example

軽かるい風邪かぜだから、そこまで心配しんぱいすることはないですよ。

karui kaze da kara, soko made shinpai suru koto wa nai desu yo.

It's just a mild cold, so there is no need to worry that much.

Compare

~たことがない vs ~ことはない

They look alike but mean different things. Past form + ことがない says you have never done something. Dictionary form + ことはない says there is no need to do it.

  • ~たことがない, have never done

    タクシーで行いったことがない。

    takushii de itta koto ga nai.

    I have never gone by taxi.

    Past form + が: experience.

  • ~ことはない, there is no need to

    近ちかいから、タクシーで行いくことはないよ。

    chikai kara, takushii de iku koto wa nai yo.

    It's close, so there's no need to go by taxi.

    Dictionary form + は: no need.

Examples

荷物にもつは少すくないから、駅えきまで迎むかえに来くることはないよ。

nimotsu wa sukunai kara, eki made mukae ni kuru koto wa nai yo.

I don’t have much luggage, so there’s no need to come pick me up at the station.

一回いっかい負まけたくらいで、そんなにがっかりすることはないよ。

ikkai maketa kurai de, sonna ni gakkari suru koto wa nai yo.

There’s no need to be so disappointed over losing just once.

全部ぜんぶ一人ひとりでやることはないよ。みんなで手伝てつだうから。

zenbu hitori de yaru koto wa nai yo. minna de tetsudau kara.

You don’t have to do it all by yourself. We’ll all help.

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.