“〜iu made mo nai・〜wa iu made mo naku”: Needless to Say, It Goes Without Saying [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「健康が大切なのは言うまでもない」「努力が必要なのは言うまでもなく」 — a high-frequency N2 assertive expression.

「努力が大切なのは言うまでもない」 — needless to say, it goes without saying

「健康の大切さは、言うまでもない」 (the importance of health goes without saying) — 「〜は言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 expresses “needless to say ～, ～ is a matter of course (goes without saying)”: something so obvious, so natural, there's no need to state it. This guide covers 「言うまでもない」's two forms (sentence-final assertion／mid-sentence “not to mention … even”), separating it from 「もちろん」 (a high-frequency N2 written form).

Core: needless to say ～, ～ goes without saying (too obvious)

「(noun／plain form) ＋ は言うまでもない」 = “～ needn't be said, ～ goes without saying” — stressing that something is too obvious, too natural to need stating:

• 準備が大切なのは言うまでもない (that preparation matters goes without saying).
• 彼が優勝候補であることは言うまでもない (that he's a title contender needn't be said).

There's also the mid-sentence form 「〜は言うまでもなく、〜も」 = “not to mention ～, even ～” (the first clause a matter of course, the second a step further):

• 漢字は言うまでもなく、ひらがなも書けない (not to mention kanji, he can't even write hiragana).

Feel: “needless to say …／not to mention …, even …” — the core is “something so natural it needn't be said.” It's a written, formal assertive expression.

The two forms & attachment

Examples in context

• 練習が上達に不可欠なのは、言うまでもない。(That practice is essential to improvement goes without saying.)
• この地域では、夏の暑さは言うまでもなく、冬の寒さも厳しい。(In this region, not to mention the summer heat, the winter cold is severe too.)
• 彼の実力は、周りの評価を見れば言うまでもない。(His ability, from the reviews around him, needn't be said.)
• 社長は言うまでもなく、社員全員がその方針に賛成した。(Not to mention the president, all employees agreed with that policy.)
• 環境保護の重要性は言うまでもない。(The importance of environmental protection goes without saying.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Don't confuse 「言うまでもない」 (sentence-final assertion) with 「言うまでもなく、〜も」 (mid-sentence escalation). The two forms differ in function. 〜は言うまでもない = ～ needn't be said (sentence-final, asserting something is a matter of course) (大切なのは言うまでもない); 〜は言うまでもなく、〜も = not to mention ～, even ～ (mid-sentence, the first a matter of course, the second a step further) (漢字は言うまでもなく、ひらがなも). For a plain assertion “this needn't be said” use the former (final); for the escalation “not to mention A, even B” use the latter (mid ＋ も).

② 「言うまでもない」 leans written, formal; colloquially use 「もちろん」. Both mean “of course,” but 「言うまでもない」 leans written, dignified (exposition, formal: 〜は言うまでもない); 「もちろん」 is more colloquial, general (もちろん行きます = of course I'll go). In daily talk “of course” is もちろん; for formal writing or a dignified “goes without saying,” use 言うまでもない.

③ Attachment: nouns attach directly, a clause needs 「のは／ことは」. noun ＋ は言うまでもない (結果は言うまでもない); if preceded by a clause (plain form), add 「のは／ことは」 to nominalize (努力が必要なのは言うまでもない; 彼が正しいことは言うまでもない). Don't attach a clause directly to 「言うまでもない」.

🔄 Compare: 言うまでもない／もちろん／は言うまでもなく／のみならず

💡 The key point in use

「〜は言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 = needless to say ～, ～ goes without saying, its core “something so natural it needn't be specially stated,” a written, formal assertion. Tell the two forms apart: ① 〜は言うまでもない (final) = asserting something is a matter of course (大切なのは言うまでもない); ② 〜は言うまでもなく、〜も (mid) = not to mention ～, even ～ (escalation) (漢字は言うまでもなく、ひらがなも). Three reminders: ① the two forms differ (final assertion vs mid escalation); ② it leans written, colloquial “of course” is 「もちろん」; ③ attachment — nouns directly, a clause adds 「のは／ことは」. To dignifiedly express “this is a matter of course, needn't be said” in formal writing, 言うまでもない is the most fitting.

❓ FAQ

Q: 「言うまでもない」 and 「もちろん」 both mean ‘of course' — how do I tell them apart?

By register (written vs colloquial) and form. 「〜は言うまでもない」 = ～ needn't be said, goes without saying (written, formal, dignified assertion, stressing ‘so natural it needn't be explained'): 教育の重要性は言うまでもない (the importance of education goes without saying — written, expository tone); 努力が必要なのは言うまでもない (that effort is needed needn't be said). It's used mostly in exposition, formal settings, dignified in tone, and is a complete predicate (a sentence-final assertion). 「もちろん」 = of course (colloquial～general, lighter, more direct): 「行く？」「もちろん！」 (“Going?” “Of course!” — a colloquial reply); もちろん、私も手伝います (of course, I'll help too). It's an adverb, placeable at the head or mid-sentence, usable in daily talk and general writing, natural and direct. Test: daily talk, a casual “of course” → もちろん; formal writing, a dignified “goes without saying, needn't be said” → 言うまでもない. Also, 「もちろん」 simply means “of course (yes),” while 「言うまでもない」 carries the feel “this is so obvious I needn't even state it,” stressing the degree of “a matter of course.” To dignifiedly say “this is self-evident” in a paper or formal report, 言うまでもない is most fitting.

Q: How does 「〜は言うまでもなく、〜も」 (not to mention …, even …) differ from 「ばかりか」?

Both express escalation (not only A, but even B), differing in feel and how written they are. 「〜は言うまでもなく、〜も／さえ」 = not to mention ～ (that's a matter of course), even ～ (the first ‘a matter of course,' the second ‘a step further,' with a ‘even this …' emphasis): 一流選手は言うまでもなく、アマチュアでさえこの技は難しい (not to mention top athletes, even amateurs find this move hard — “top athletes find it hard” is a matter of course, “even amateurs find it hard” is a step further). Its first clause is something “needless to say, of course so,” the second being the point (even …). 「〜ばかりか、〜も／まで」 = not only ～, but (even) ～ (adding something greater, more unexpected on top of the first; see 〈ばかりか〉): 彼は遅刻したばかりか、謝りもしなかった (not only was he late, he didn't even apologize — adding a greater item). Both escalate, but 「は言うまでもなく」's first clause carries a ‘that's of course, needn't be said' feel (setting aside the obvious, stressing the second), while 「ばかりか」 is plainly ‘on top of A, add a greater B' (not specially stressing A as “a matter of course”). Test: the first clause is “needless to say, of course” → は言うまでもなく; a plain “not only A but B (escalating surprise)” → ばかりか. (ばかりか: see 〈ばかりか〉.)

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「努力が大切なのは___。」(it goes without saying that effort is important — assertion)

(A) 当然だ　(B) 言うまでもない　(C) に他ならない　(D) にすぎない

Q2. 「健康は___、時間も大切だ。」(health goes without saying, and time is important too)

(A) 言うまでもなく　(B) 言うまでもない　(C) 当然で　(D) もちろんなく

Q3. What's the biggest difference between 「言うまでもない」 and 「当然だ」?

(A) totally different meaning

(B) 言うまでもない: more written/emphatic; 当然だ: also usable colloquially

(C) 当然だ has no negative form

(D) 言うまでもない is present-only

Q4. When is 「言うまでもなく」 used?

(A) alone at the sentence-end

(B) mid-sentence, with an additional point following

(C) in questions

(D) only for past events

Q5. 「成功の秘訣は努力___。」(the secret of success is none other than effort — strong assertion)

(A) にすぎない　(B) に他ならない　(C) 言うまでもない　(D) に違いない

Answer Key

1. (B) 言うまでもない ── 言うまでもない = it goes without saying (a self-evident truth). 当然だ also works but 言うまでもない is more written/emphatic.

2. (A) 言うまでもなく ── 〜は言うまでもなく、… = … goes without saying, and … (mid-sentence, adverbial).

3. (B) ── 言うまでもない is more written/emphatic; 当然だ is also colloquial.

4. (B) ── 言うまでもなく is used mid-sentence, with an additional point following.

5. (B) に他ならない ── 努力に他ならない = none other than effort (a strong assertion).