JLPT N3Written, formalSpeeches

言いうまでもないneedless to say

The point is so obvious that it hardly needs saying, and you say it anyway: "needless to say". It belongs to writing and speeches. Talking, people say もちろん.

opens a sentence

言いうまでもなく、個こ人じん情じょう報ほうは慎しん重ちょうに扱あつかわなければならない。

Needless to say, personal information must be handled carefully.

closes one

冬ふゆ山やまでは、十じゅう分ぶんな防ぼう寒かん対たい策さくが必ひつ要ようなのは言いうまでもない。

It goes without saying that you need proper protection against the cold on a mountain in winter.

To open a sentence

言いうまでもなく、+ sentence

To close one

Plain form + のは言いうまでもない

ことは works the same way. A な-adjective keeps な: 必ひつ要ようなのは. Polite: 言いうまでもありません.

A, and B too

Noun + は言いうまでもなく、… も

A is the obvious one, and B is true as well.

What it's said about: Something you take everyone to accept already: safety comes first, a contract should be read.
Tone: Sure of itself, and a little stiff.
Where you'll meet it: Essays, newspaper opinion pieces, speeches, presentations. In conversation, mostly when the talk is serious.

In use

契けい約やく書しょに署しょ名めいする前まえに内ない容ようを確かく認にんすべきなのは言いうまでもない。

It goes without saying that you should check what a contract says before you sign it.

この薬くすりは医い師しの指し示じに従したがって使し用ようする。言いうまでもなく、他た人にんに渡わたしてはいけない。

Use this medicine as your doctor directs. Needless to say, you must not give it to anyone else.

この店みせは味あじは言いうまでもなく、サービスもすばらしい。

The food here is excellent, needless to say, and so is the service.

Talking, people say もちろん

Across a table, 言いうまでもなく sounds like the start of a speech. The everyday word is もちろん, which is also how you answer "of course". 当とう然ぜん is "naturally", and a little firmer.

この資し料りょうは、言いうまでもなく社しゃ外がい秘ひです。

Needless to say, this document is confidential.

In a briefing, or in writing.

この資し料りょうは、もちろん社しゃ外がい秘ひです。

This document is confidential, of course.

Said to a colleague.

A

明日あしたの引ひっ越こし、手て伝つだってくれる？

Can you help me move tomorrow?

B

もちろん。友ともだちなんだから、当とう然ぜんだよ。

Of course. We're friends, so naturally I will.

Close neighbours

はもちろんN3

A は言いうまでもなく、B も in everyday words: A, of course, and B too.

田た中なかさんは英えい語ごはもちろん、中ちゅう国ごく語ごも話はなせます。

Tanaka can speak English, of course, and Chinese as well.

までもないN1

With any other verb it only says there is no need to go that far: 聞きくまでもない, no need to ask.

この程てい度どの傷きずなら、病びょう院いんへ行いくまでもない。

For a wound this minor, there is no need to go to the hospital.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

毎まい日にちの練れん習しゅうが大たい切せつなのは（　　）。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits B's reply?

A「明日あしたの試し合あい、見みに来きてくれる？」　B「（　　）。」

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

製せい品ひん開かい発はつでは、利り用よう者しゃの安あん全ぜんが最さい優ゆう先せんであることは言いうまでもない。

It goes without saying that the safety of users comes first in product development.

締しめ切きりを守まもることは言いうまでもないが、内ない容ようの正せい確かくさも同おなじくらい重じゅう要ようだ。

Meeting the deadline goes without saying, but getting the content right matters just as much.

言いうまでもないが grants the obvious point and moves on to another.

安あん全ぜん性せいは言いうまでもないが、使つかいやすさも重じゅう要ようだ。

Safety goes without saying, but ease of use matters too.