MJ ENGLISH › MJ-EN 036 Softening & Hedging › It's not that..., it's just that

Real Talk

It's not that..., it's just that

/ɪts nɑt ðæt ɪts dʒʌst ðæt/

〜ってわけじゃなくて、ただ〜なだけ

「It's not that..., it's just that」は「〜ってわけじゃなくて、ただ〜なだけ」という意味の英語表現です。英語で言うと Rejects a harsh reason and gives the real, softer one.

例文・会話例

1. AYou don't like my cooking?
2. BIt's not that I don't like it, it's just that I'm full.
3. It's not that I'm mad. It's just that you didn't call.
4. It's not that the song's bad, it's just that it's too long.

自然な言い方・避けたい言い方

• ○ It's not so much the price as the timing. — ちょっと上級の同じ型
• × I don't dislike it, but （教科書的）二重否定で分かりにくい

なぜこう言うのか

相手が想像している「キツい理由」を先に否定してから、本当の理由を出す型。気持ちを説明するときの超定番。It's not that のあとは文（I don't like it など）が来る。

同じレコードのフレーズ

• I might be wrong, but間違ってたらごめんだけど
• Not to be that guy, butうるさいやつになりたくないけど
• I'm not complaining, but文句じゃないんだけど
• Don't take this the wrong way, but悪く取らないでほしいんだけど
• With all due respect,お言葉ですが
• I hate to say it, but言いにくいんだけど