# に足らない / に足りない: cannot; not worthy; not worth doing ~

> Learn how to use に足らない / に足りない, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning cannot; not worthy, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-ni-taranai-ni-tarinai/

**に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** means **cannot; not worthy; not worth doing ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to dismiss something as too trivial or insufficient to merit the stated action. This pattern gives your Japanese a sharper, more evaluative edge — often critical or superior.

If you want to say that someone’s opinion is beneath discussion, a problem isn’t serious enough to worry about, or an achievement falls short of praise, **に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** is the precise tool.

## What does に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない mean?

Use **に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** when you want to express that something does not reach the level needed to justify doing the verb. It’s a judgment of insufficiency — not in quantity, but in importance or worth.

Natural translations include:
- not worth ~ing
- cannot be called ~
- not enough to ~
- too insignificant to ~

The variant with **<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** (instead of **<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない**) is slightly less common but identical in meaning. Choose whichever sounds more natural to you; native speakers use both.

## How to form に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

**Pattern**

<div class="formation">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb (dictionary form)</span>
  <span class="fplus">＋</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-aux">に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span>
</div>

No noun or adjective can take the place of the verb. The verb you attach is the action you judge as ‘not worth doing’. Typical verbs include: **<ruby>言う<rp>(</rp><rt>ゆう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** (say), **<ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** (take), **<ruby>驚く<rp>(</rp><rt>おどろく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** (be surprised), **<ruby>恐れる<rp>(</rp><rt>おそれる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** (fear), **<ruby>問題<rp>(</rp><rt>もんだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>にする** (make an issue of), **<ruby>称賛<rp>(</rp><rt>しょうさん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する** (praise), **<ruby>信じる<rp>(</rp><rt>しんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** (believe), etc.

Example formulas:

<div class="formula">
  <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  <span>に</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-aux"><ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span>
</div>
<div class="formula">
  <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>驚く<rp>(</rp><rt>おどろく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  <span>に</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-aux"><ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span>
</div>

If the verb expresses a state rather than an action (e.g. **<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する** ‘be worthy’), the nuance flips. That’s a different pattern reviewed in the comparison section below.

## When is に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない used?

This grammar pops up in contexts where a speaker or writer is **dismissing something as unimportant, trivial, or undeserving of attention**. The stance is often critical, sometimes arrogant, but can also be factual (e.g. in scientific reporting: “data not significant enough to warrant discussion”).

Common settings:
- **Essays and editorials** — brushing aside weak counterarguments
- **Formal criticism** — reviewing art, policies, performances
- **News and commentary** — declaring an event unremarkable
- **Everyday speech (when the speaker wants to sound sharp)** — telling a friend their worry is “not worth fretting over”

Tone & register:
- Formal to semi‑formal; rarely used in very casual chitchat.
- The dismissive flavor makes it stronger than a simple negative. Saying **<ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** is harsher than just **<ruby>大した<rp>(</rp><rt>たいした</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ことない** (not a big deal).

## に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない example sentences

<figure class="examples">

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    <ruby>彼<rt>かれ</rt></ruby>の<ruby>意見<rt>いけん</rt></ruby>は<ruby>取<rt>と</rt></ruby>るに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>らない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">His opinion is not worth considering.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">dismissive</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    その<ruby>問題<rt>もんだい</rt></ruby>は<ruby>議論<rt>ぎろん</rt></ruby>するに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>りない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">That problem isn’t worth discussing.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">trivial</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    あんな<ruby>小<rt>ちい</rt></ruby>さなミスは<ruby>気<rt>き</rt></ruby>にするに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>らない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">Such a small mistake isn’t worth worrying about.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">reassuring</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    <ruby>彼<rt>かれ</rt></ruby>の<ruby>実績<rt>じっせき</rt></ruby>は<ruby>称賛<rt>しょうさん</rt></ruby>するに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>らない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">His achievements aren’t worth praising.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">critical</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    その<ruby>噂<rt>うわさ</rt></ruby>は<ruby>信<rt>しん</rt></ruby>じるに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>りない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">That rumor isn’t credible enough to believe.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">skeptical</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="example">
  <p class="example-jp">
    この<ruby>結果<rt>けっか</rt></ruby>は<ruby>驚<rt>おどろ</rt></ruby>くに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>りない。
  </p>
  <p class="example-en">This result is nothing to be surprised about.</p>
  <footer class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">matter-of-fact</span>
  </footer>
</blockquote>

</figure>

## Nuance of に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

The core nuance is **active dismissal**: the speaker declares that something falls so far short that the verb isn’t justified.  

This is different from just saying “it’s not much”. For example:
- **<ruby>大した<rp>(</rp><rt>たいした</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ことない** — “it’s no big deal” (casual, neutral).
- **<ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** — “it’s beneath consideration” (formal, dismissive, carries a sense of superiority).

Using this pattern implies you’ve evaluated the thing and found it lacking. When you use it about another person’s statement, it can sound condescending. Use it intentionally, and only when you really mean that something is too trivial to deserve the action.

In writing, the choice between <ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない and <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない is often just a matter of rhythm; <ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない might feel slightly more archaic or bookish. For conversation, <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない is more common.

## に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない vs に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する

These two are direct opposites — both evaluate whether something reaches a standard, but from opposite sides.

<section class="compare">

<div class="cmp">
  <div class="cmp-head a">に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</div>
  <div class="cmp-sub">negative worth</div>
  <ul class="cmp-when">
    <li>States that something is **not** important enough to do the verb.</li>
    <li>Used to dismiss or downplay.</li>
  </ul>
  <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg-en">not worth considering / trivial</div>
</div>

<div class="vs">vs</div>

<div class="cmp">
  <div class="cmp-head b">に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する</div>
  <div class="cmp-sub">positive worth</div>
  <ul class="cmp-when">
    <li>States that something **is** worth the verb; it deserves that action.</li>
    <li>Used to praise or acknowledge merit.</li>
  </ul>
  <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>称賛<rp>(</rp><rt>しょうさん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>するに<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg-en">praiseworthy / deserves praise</div>
</div>

</section>

Quick contrast:

- **<ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>評価<rp>(</rp><rt>ひょうか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>するに<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する** — His efforts are worthy of recognition (positive).
- **<ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>評価<rp>(</rp><rt>ひょうか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>するに<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** — His efforts aren’t worth recognizing (negative).

If you ever forget which is which, remember that **<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** means “value, worth” in a positive sense, while **<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** means “not enough”.

## Common mistakes with に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

<div class="mistakes">

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline bad">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body">
      <ruby>時間<rt>じかん</rt></ruby>が<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>りない。
    </span>
    <span class="note">(literal “not enough time” — no に)</span>
  </div>
  <div class="mline good">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body">
      その<ruby>議論<rt>ぎろん</rt></ruby>をする<ruby>時間<rt>じかん</rt></ruby>は<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>りないが、<ruby>問題<rt>もんだい</rt></ruby>は<ruby>重要<rt>じゅうよう</rt></ruby>だ。
    </span>
    <span class="note">(plain <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない for shortage; no に)</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline bad">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body">この<ruby>本<rt>ほん</rt></ruby>に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。</span>
    <span class="note">(cannot attach に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない directly to a noun)</span>
  </div>
  <div class="mline good">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body">この<ruby>本<rt>ほん</rt></ruby>は<ruby>読<rt>よ</rt></ruby>むに<ruby>足<rt>た</rt></ruby>らない。</span>
    <span class="note">(verb + に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない)</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline bad">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body"><ruby>驚<rt>おどろ</rt></ruby>いたに<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。</span>
    <span class="note">(verb must be dictionary form, never past)</span>
  </div>
  <div class="mline good">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body"><ruby>驚<rt>おどろ</rt></ruby>くに<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。</span>
  </div>
</div>

</div>

The main takeaway: **に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** is never about literal shortage. It’s about worthiness. When you need to say “not enough money / time / sugar”, drop the に and use plain <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない.

## Is に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <span class="jlpt-shield">N1</span>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p><strong>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</strong> is a staple of the N1 grammar syllabus.</p>
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <span>Appears in reading passages (editorials, critiques)</span>
      <span>Tested in grammar section — often as the correct choice to express dismissal</span>
      <span>May be contrasted with に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する or に<ruby>足る<rp>(</rp><rt>たる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> in the same question</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

JLPT exam writers love to test whether you can tell the difference between patterns that hinge on one particle or one verb form. Be ready for a sentence where plain <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない is a distractor, and the correct answer requires the evaluative に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない.

## Practice questions for に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

<figure class="prompts">

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
  <p class="prompt-text">
    <span class="prompt-tag">dismissal</span>
    Use に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない to dismiss a popular complaint in your country.
  </p>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
  <p class="prompt-text">
    <span class="prompt-tag">comparison</span>
    Write a sentence with <strong>に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する</strong>, then rewrite it negatively using <strong>に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</strong>. Feel the tone shift.
  </p>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
  <p class="prompt-text">
    <span class="prompt-tag">collocation</span>
    Create three original sentences using the most common collocations: <ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない、<ruby>言う<rp>(</rp><rt>ゆう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない、<ruby>驚く<rp>(</rp><rt>おどろく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない.
  </p>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">4</span>
  <p class="prompt-text">
    <span class="prompt-tag">JLPT trap</span>
    You see this in a sentence: <code><ruby>時間<rp>(</rp><rt>じかん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>が<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ないから<ruby>急ごう<rp>(</rp><rt>いそごう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></code>. Is に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない an appropriate replacement? Explain why not.
  </p>
</div>

</figure>

## Learning path for に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

<figure class="path">

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">1</span>
  <p class="step-body">
    <strong>Memorize the core collocations.</strong> Drill <ruby>取る<rp>(</rp><rt>とる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない、<ruby>言う<rp>(</rp><rt>ゆう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない、<ruby>驚く<rp>(</rp><rt>おどろく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない until they flow naturally.
  </p>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">2</span>
  <p class="step-body">
    <strong>Contrast with に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する.</strong> Build a private cheat sheet of five opposite pairs (e.g., <ruby>信じる<rp>(</rp><rt>しんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する vs <ruby>信じる<rp>(</rp><rt>しんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない).
  </p>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">3</span>
  <p class="step-body">
    <strong>Upgrade your dismissive toolkit.</strong> Replace <ruby>大した<rp>(</rp><rt>たいした</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ことない with に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない in a journal entry or language exchange. Notice how the register lifts.
  </p>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">4</span>
  <p class="step-body">
    <strong>Spot the trap.</strong> Collect a few sentences where plain <ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない appears. Rewrite the ones where you can add に to create a value judgment. This cements the difference.
  </p>
</div>

</figure>

## Related grammar to review next

- [に<ruby>値<rp>(</rp><rt>あたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する](/blog/n1-ni-atai-suru/) — the positive twin; when something *is* worthy.
- [に](/blog/n1-ni/) — the fundamental particle; mastering its evaluative uses powers this pattern.
- [にあって](/blog/n1-ni-atte/) — an N1 pattern that also builds a contextual frame with に.
- [にひきかえ](/blog/n1-ni-hikikae/) — in sharp contrast to; another N1 point that pairs with に.

## Learn に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない with Hane

Review **に<ruby>足ら<rp>(</rp><rt>たら</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない / に<ruby>足り<rp>(</rp><rt>たり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない** alongside its opposites and related patterns in focused practice sessions with Hane. Short drills help the dismissive nuance stick faster than reading alone.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)