No need to: 〜には及ばない
動詞辞書形・名詞 + には及ばない
〜には及ばない: 1) “there's no need” (often a polite formula: ご心配には及びません); 2) “not to match” (足元にも及ばない). 〜は言うに及ばず = “not to mention”.
In short
〜には及ばない has two meanings. 1) “there's no need”, often as a polite formula to spare the listener some effort: わざわざお越しいただくには及びません. 2) “not to match, not to come up to the level of”: 私は彼の足元にも及ばない (I can't hold a candle to him). Polite, formal register.
- 書類は郵送いたしますので、お越しいただくには及びません。しょるいはゆうそういたしますので、おこしいただくにはおよびません。We'll send you the documents by post, so there's no need for you to come in.
- この程度のけがなら、病院に行くには及ばない。このていどのけがなら、びょういんにいくにはおよばない。For an injury this minor, there's no need to go to hospital.
- 料理の腕では、私は母の足元にも及ばない。りょうりのうでは、わたしはははのあしもとにもおよばない。When it comes to cooking, I can't hold a candle to my mother.
The basics
及ぶ means “to reach, to extend as far as”. 〜には及ばない: “there's no need to go as far as”. So the primary meaning is “no need to”. Very often it's a formula of politeness: you excuse the other person from some step.
With a noun for a person, the same idea of “reaching” gives the second meaning: “not to reach someone's level”.
Please don't trouble yourself to come.
- other
- verb
- particle
- grammatical form
- ご心配には及びません。もうすっかり元気です。ごしんぱいにはおよびません。もうすっかりげんきです。There's no need to worry. I've completely recovered.
- お礼には及びません。当然のことをしたまでです。おれいにはおよびません。とうぜんのことをしたまでです。There's no need to thank me; I only did what anyone would.
How to form it
Dictionary form or noun + には及ばない (polite: には及びません). For the second meaning: person + に(は)及ばない, often reinforced by 足元にも (“not even to their feet”) — the Japanese image behind “can't hold a candle to”.
| Meaning | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| no need to | verb + には及ばない | 行くには及ばない |
| polite formula | ご〜には及びません | ご心配には及びません |
| not match | person + に(は)及ばない | 彼には及ばない |
| let alone, not to mention | 〜は言うに及ばず | 子どもは言うに及ばず |
- この町は、観光客は言うに及ばず、地元の人にも愛されている。このまちは、かんこうきゃくはいうにおよばず、じもとのひとにもあいされている。This town is loved by tourists, of course, but by the locals too.
The two meanings and their neighbours
In the sense “no need”, 〜には及ばない is politer than 〜なくてもいい and less categorical than 〜までもない. To judge a reaction (surprise, criticism), 〜にはあたらない is preferred.
In the sense “not match”, it comes close to 〜にはかなわない (spoken: “I'm no match for”). 足元にも及ばない is a fixed, very common image used to express admiration.
- 足の速さでは、兄にはかなわない。あしのはやさでは、あににはかなわない。When it comes to running, I'm no match for my older brother.
- 明日は来なくてもいいですよ。あしたはこなくてもいいですよ。You don't have to come tomorrow. (everyday register)
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the two meanings: with an action (行く, 来る), it's “no need”; with a person (彼に), it's “not match”.
- Choosing には及ばない to judge a reaction: 驚くには及ばない does occur, but the expected expression, especially in the JLPT, is 驚くにはあたらない (“it's nothing to be surprised about”).
- Misreading 言うに及ばず: it isn't “without saying it”, but “not to mention, let alone”.
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 Yamagata Line (Science and medicine) of the Shinkansen.