“〜made mo nai・〜made mo naku”: No Need to 〜, Needless to 〜 [JLPT N2]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

「説明するまでもない」「言うまでもなく」 — it's obvious, no need to specially 〜.

“〜made mo nai・〜made mo naku”: No Need to 〜, Needless to 〜

「(verb dict. form) ＋ までもない」 means “no need to 〜, not necessary to specially 〜, not to the point of 〜” — expressing that the matter is too obvious, the degree too slight, to need doing specially. E.g. 「こんな常識、わざわざ教えるまでもない」 (such common sense — no need to specially teach it), 「今さら騒ぐまでもない」 (at this point, no need to make a fuss); 「〜までもなく」 is the connecting form: 「言うまでもなく、努力は成功への近道だ」 (needless to say, effort is the shortcut to success). ⚠️ 「言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 (needless to say, of course) is the most common fixed collocation. ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋ までもない.

🧠 Core nuance: too obvious/too slight, not worth doing specially

The core is the matter being too obvious, the degree too slight, to need doing some action specially: 「〜までもない」 expresses ‘no need to …, not necessary to specially …, not to the point of …' (too obvious: 教えるまでもない = no need to teach, 聞くまでもない = no need to ask; degree too slight: 病院に行くまでもない = no need to go to hospital, 騒ぐまでもない = no need to make a fuss). It carries a ‘something that obvious/that small isn't worth specially …' nuance. ⚠️ 「までもなく」 is the connecting form (followed by a clause): 言うまでもなく〜 = needless to say, …(without waiting to …); 「までもない」 goes at the sentence end. ⚠️ Most common fixed collocation: 「言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 = needless to say, of course (言うまでもなく、健康が一番だ = needless to say, health is most important). ⚠️ Contrast with 「ことはない」: 「までもない」 = too obvious/too slight, no need (a matter of course); 「ことはない」 = unnecessary (the general ‘no need,' broader range). Connection: verb dict. form ＋ までもない/までもなく.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• こんな常識、わざわざ説明するまでもない。(Such common sense — no need to specially explain it.) — too obvious
• 答えは明らかだから、聞くまでもない。(The answer is obvious, so no need to ask.) — no need to ask
• 軽いかすり傷だから、病院に行くまでもない。(It's a light scratch, so no need to go to the hospital.) — degree too slight
• 言うまでもなく、努力は成功への近道だ。(Needless to say, effort is the shortcut to success.) — 言うまでもなく
• 今さら騒ぐまでもない、もう済んだことだ。(No need to make a fuss now — it's already over.) — no need

🔄 Compare: までもない vs ことはない vs には当たらない vs ほどではない

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. までもない vs までもなく: までもない goes at the sentence end (教えるまでもない); までもなく connects to the next clause (言うまでもなく〜).
2. Fixed collocation 言うまでもない: = needless to say, of course (most common, most tested).
3. Distinguish from ことはない: までもない = too obvious/too slight (naturally unnecessary); ことはない = the general ‘no need.'
4. Attaches to the dict. form: verb dict. form ＋ までもない (言うまでもない, ✗ 言ったまでもない).

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「までもない」 means “no need to 〜, not necessary to specially 〜,” the matter too obvious, the degree too slight, to need doing specially (教えるまでもない, 病院に行くまでもない, 騒ぐまでもない). 「までもなく」 is the connecting form (言うまでもなく = needless to say). The most common fixed collocation 「言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 (needless to say, of course). ⚠️ Distinguish from the general ‘no need' ことはない and the excessive-reaction-denying には当たらない. A must at N2.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N2: verb dict. form ＋ までもない = no need to, not necessary to specially (too obvious/too slight); までもなく = connecting form (言うまでもなく).
• Fixed collocation: 言うまでもない／言うまでもなく = needless to say, of course (most tested).
• Core distinction: までもない (too obvious/too slight, naturally unnecessary) vs ことはない (the general ‘no need').

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「こんな常識、わざわざ教える___。」(no need to go out of one's way to teach)

(A) までもない　(B) ほかない　(C) しかない　(D) よりない

Q2. 「___までもなく、努力は成功への近道だ。」(it goes without saying)

(A) 言う　(B) 言った　(C) 言って　(D) 言い

Q3. What is the core meaning of 「までもない」?

(A) must do 〜

(B) too obvious / too minor — no need to bother doing it

(C) want to do 〜

(D) must not do

Q4. What does 「今さら騒ぐまでもない」 mean?

(A) now's the time to make a fuss

(B) at this point, no need to make a fuss anymore

(C) must act immediately

(D) never needed to worry

Q5. Which correctly states the difference between 「までもない」 and 「ことはない」?

(A) までもない = obviously ‘no need' (self-evident); ことはない = ‘no need,' with consolation/advice

(B) exactly the same

(C) までもない only in negatives

(D) ことはない is for the past

Answer Key

1. (A) までもない ── such common sense is too obvious — no need to teach it.

2. (A) 言う ── attaches to the verb dict. form: 言うまでもなく.

3. (B) ── までもない = too obvious — no need to bother doing it.

4. (B) ── 今さら騒ぐまでもない = at this point, no need to make a fuss anymore.

5. (A) ── までもない = obviously ‘no need' (self-evident); ことはない = ‘no need,' with consolation/advice.