What does ～どころではない mean? Japanese grammar N2

Forming it

How to use it

The situation is so serious that the other matter is completely out of the question. A strongly dismissive tone.

• 「～どころではない」 = this is no time for…: 「仕事が山積みで、旅行どころではない」.
• The reason must be a serious circumstance (being busy, sick, in crisis) — clearly stated in the first clause.
• Do not confuse this with 「～どころか」 (far from…, on the contrary): 「暖かいどころか、寒いくらいだ」 — that pattern flips the expectation rather than dismissing a circumstance.

Examples

• 仕事(しごと)が山積(やまづ)みで、旅行(りょこう)どころではない。

  With work piled up, this is no time for a trip.

• 熱(ねつ)が四(よん)十(じゅう)度(ど)もあって、勉強(べんきょう)するどころではなかった。

  With a 40-degree fever, studying was out of the question.

Keep in mind

• The preceding clause must state a serious circumstance.
• Connects to the dictionary form of a verb or a noun.

Common mistakes

• Wrong暖(あたた)かいどころではなく、寒(さむ)いくらいだ。

  Far from warm, it's practically cold.

  Correct暖(あたた)かいどころか、寒(さむ)いくらいだ。

  For flipping an expectation, use 「どころか」.

• Wrong暇(ひま)なので、遊(あそ)ぶどころではない。

  Since I'm busy, this is no time to play.

  Correct忙(いそが)しいので、遊(あそ)ぶどころではない。

  The first clause must be a serious circumstance that makes the other thing impossible.

Exam tips

• 「どころではない」 = this is no time for…; different from 「どころか」 (flips the expectation).

Related patterns

• ～どころか
• ～ばかりではない
• ～場合ではない