JLPT N2Spoken and written

どころではないno time for; out of the question

Things are too pressing for something: you are too busy, too ill, too broke or too worried to even think about it.

高こう熱ねつが続つづいていて、試し験けんを受うけるどころではなかった。

The high fever would not go away, so taking the exam was out of the question.

電でん車しゃが止とまってるんだから、映えい画がどころじゃないよ。

The trains have stopped, so forget about the movie.

How to form it

Noun／verb dictionary form + どころではない

旅りょ行こうどころではない, 寝ねるどころではない, 休やすんでいるどころではない. Nothing comes in between. Casual どころじゃない, polite どころではありません, past どころではなかった.

Before it: What there is no room for, mostly something pleasant or ordinary: 旅りょ行こう, 映えい画が, 食しょく事じ, 寝ねる.
The reason: Usually comes first, with て, で or から: a deadline, a fever, no money, bad news.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation, news, novels.

どころではない or どころか?

忙いそがしくて、旅りょ行こうどころではない。

I'm too busy to even think about a trip.

どころではない ends the sentence. The situation leaves no room for a trip. Casual: どころじゃない.

涼すずしいどころか、寒さむいくらいだ。

It isn't just cool. It's almost cold.

どころか goes on to a second half. "Cool" is thrown out, and the second half says how things really are.

In use

明日あしたの朝あさまでに復ふっ旧きゅうさせる必ひつ要ようがあり、家いえに帰かえるどころではない。

It has to be up and running again by tomorrow morning, so going home is out of the question.

心しん配ぱいで、食しょく事じどころではなかった。

I was too worried to think about eating.

今いまは避ひ難なん経けい路ろを確かく保ほしなければならず、休やすんでいるどころではない。

We need to secure an evacuation route now, so this is no time to be resting.

それどころじゃない

A phrase you will hear a lot. Someone brings up something pleasant or small while you are dealing with something bigger, and それ is whatever they brought up: "I can't think about that now."

A

今こん度どの連れん休きゅう、どこか行いく？

Are you going anywhere over the long weekend?

B

それどころじゃないよ。来らい週しゅう、試し験けんなんだ。

I can't even think about that. I've got exams next week.

Close neighbours

どころかN2

Its second half is often the reverse of the first: "far from".

売うり上あげは減へるどころか、前ぜん年ねんより三さん割わりも増ふえた。

Far from falling, sales were up thirty percent on the year before.

わけにはいかないN3

"I can't very well…": you could, but duty, manners or your position stop you. With どころではない nothing is being weighed up. There is simply no room.

部ぶ下かがまだ作さ業ぎょうしているのに、私わたしだけ帰かえるわけにはいかない。

My staff are still working, so I can't very well be the only one to go home.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

引ひっ越こしの準じゅん備びが終おわらなくて、花はな見み（　　）。

Choose an answer to see why.

2What is B saying?

A「週しゅう末まつ、カラオケに行いかない？」　B「ごめん、今いまそれどころじゃないんだ。」

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

どころの話はなしではない and どころの騒さわぎではない say the same thing with more force.

山さん頂ちょう付ふ近きんは吹雪ふぶきで、景色けしきを楽たのしむどころの話はなしではない。

There's a blizzard near the summit, so enjoying the view is completely out of the question.

After an adjective, it can also mean that the word is far too weak, the way どころか does.

寒さむいどころじゃない。凍こごえそうだ。

Cold isn't the word for it. I'm about to freeze.

More sentences

締しめ切きりが三みっつ重かさなって、旅りょ行こうどころではない。

With three deadlines piling up, a trip is out of the question.

大だい規き模ぼな停てい電でんで病びょう院いんは混こん乱らんし、通つう常じょう診しん療りょうどころではない。

A major power outage has thrown the hospital into confusion, and ordinary appointments are out of the question.

会かい社しゃの存そん続ぞくが危あやぶまれる中なか、部ぶ署しょ同どう士しで争あらそっているどころではありません。

With the company's survival in doubt, this is no time for departments to be fighting each other.

会かい場じょうが浸しん水すいして、開かい演えんどころの騒さわぎではない。

The venue is flooded; opening the show is completely out of the question.

A

今こん夜や、飲のみに行いかない？

Want to go for a drink tonight?

B

明日あしたまでに報ほう告こく書しょを三さん本ぼん仕し上あげなきゃならないんだ。飲のみに行いくどころじゃないよ。

I have to finish three reports by tomorrow. Going for a drink is out of the question.