Not stopping at: 〜にとどまらず
名詞・普通形 + にとどまらず
X にとどまらず Y = “not stopping at X, spreading to Y”: a phenomenon overflows its frame. Written register, the press.
In short
X にとどまらず Y: something doesn't stop at X but spreads to a wider frame, Y. X and Y are of the same kind (one region then a larger one, one field then others, one audience then another). Written register: the press, reports, presentations.
- その影響は国内にとどまらず、海外にまで広がった。そのえいきょうはこくないにとどまらず、かいがいにまでひろがった。The impact didn't stop at the national level: it spread abroad too.
- この問題は一企業にとどまらず、業界全体の課題だ。このもんだいはいちきぎょうにとどまらず、ぎょうかいぜんたいのかだいだ。This problem isn't confined to one company: it's a challenge for the whole industry.
- 彼の活動は、曲を作るにとどまらず、若手の育成にも及んでいる。かれのかつどうは、きょくをつくるにとどまらず、わかてのいくせいにもおよんでいる。His work goes beyond composing: it extends to training young musicians.
The basics
とどまる means “to stay, to stop at”. にとどまらず is its written negative form (〜ず = 〜ないで): “without stopping at X”. You show that a phenomenon overflows its initial frame and reaches a wider one — like English “not confined to”, “goes beyond”.
The impact didn't stop at the national level: it spread abroad too.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 影響は国内にとどまらず、海外にまで広がった。えいきょうはこくないにとどまらず、かいがいにまでひろがった。The impact didn't stop at the national level: it spread abroad too.
- 環境問題は一国にとどまらず、地球規模で考えるべきだ。かんきょうもんだいはいっこくにとどまらず、ちきゅうきぼでかんがえるべきだ。Environmental issues don't stop at borders: they need to be thought about on a global scale.
How to form it
にとどまらず follows a noun or the plain form of a verb. It's often reinforced with だけ or のみ: 〜だけにとどまらず. What follows frequently contains も or まで.
| Before | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun | noun + にとどまらず | 国内にとどまらず |
| verb | plain form + にとどまらず | 作るにとどまらず |
| reinforced | 〜だけ／のみにとどまらず | 日本だけにとどまらず |
| spoken form | 〜にとどまらないで | rarer, less formal |
- この祭りは地元の人だけにとどまらず、多くの観光客を集めている。このまつりはじもとのひとだけにとどまらず、おおくのかんこうきゃくをあつめている。This festival doesn't only attract locals: it draws a lot of tourists.
Two terms of the same kind
X and Y belong to the same category: two areas (東京 → 関東), two fields (医療 → 教育), two audiences (子ども → 大人), two actions (批判する → 提案する). The movement goes from narrower to wider.
- 彼女は歌手にとどまらず、女優としても成功を収めた。かのじょはかしゅにとどまらず、じょゆうとしてもせいこうをおさめた。She wasn't just a singer: she also succeeded as an actress.
にとどまらず, だけでなく, のみならず
だけでなく (N3) is the everyday form, in speech and writing. のみならず (N2) is its formal equivalent. にとどまらず stresses the idea of overflowing, of spreading from one frame to a wider one.
| Form | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜だけでなく | everyday | 子どもだけでなく大人も |
| 〜のみならず | written | 国内のみならず海外でも |
| 〜にとどまらず | written, press | 国内にとどまらず海外にまで広がる |
- この本は子どもだけでなく、大人にも人気がある。このほんはこどもだけでなく、おとなにもにんきがある。This book is popular not only with children but with adults too.
Common mistakes
- Pairing terms of different kinds: “東京にとどまらず料理も” mixes a place and a field.
- Forgetting the idea of extension: Y must be wider than X.
- Using it in relaxed conversation: you'd rather say だけじゃなくて.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Nishi-Kyūshū Line (Trade and the economy) of the Shinkansen.