“ichigai ni 〜nai”: Cannot Generalize / Can't Say Across the Board [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Negating an overgeneralization — “not necessarily all”
“ichigai ni 〜nai”: Cannot Generalize / Can't Say Across the Board
「一概(いちがい)に〜ない」 means “cannot generalize, can't say sweepingly that all…” — negating an overgeneralization, pointing out there are exceptions, not painting everyone with one brush. E.g. 「高ければ良いとは、一概に言えない」 (you can't generalize that expensive means good), 「彼が悪いとは、一概には言えない」 (you can't say across the board that it's all his fault). 一概に almost always pairs with the negative 〜ない.
🧠 Core nuance: it's not that simple — you can't paint with one brush
The core is negating a sweeping, one-size-fits-all judgment: a statement may seem to hold, but in reality there are exceptions and different cases, so you can't judge so simply or sweepingly (can't generalize that expensive is good, that all young people are…). 一概に is “sweepingly, uniformly,” paired with the negative ない to form “can't generalize.” It keeps judgment flexible and avoids overgeneralizing.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 一概に ＋ 〜とは言えない | can't generalize | 一概には言えない |
| 一概に ＋ negative | can't generalize (must pair with ない) | 一概に否定できない |
| (note) must pair with a negative | ✗ 一概に正しい | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- 値段が高ければ良いとは、一概には言えない。(You can't generalize that expensive means good.) — can't say across the board
- 彼の意見が間違っているとは、一概には言えない。(You can't sweepingly say his opinion is wrong.) — there are exceptions
- 若者が皆そうだとは、一概に決めつけられない。(You can't sweepingly conclude all young people are like that.) — avoiding overgeneralization
- 残業が悪いとは、一概に否定できない面もある。(There's a side where you can't sweepingly dismiss overtime.) — keeping it flexible
- 安いものが粗悪だとは、一概には言えない。(You can't generalize that cheap things are shoddy.) — not one-size-fits-all
🔄 Compare: 一概に〜ない vs 必ずしも〜ない vs 一向に vs 一斉に
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 一概に〜ない | “can't generalize (sweepingly)” | 一概には言えない |
| 必ずしも〜ない | “not necessarily, not all” (partial negation) | 必ずしも正しくない |
| 一向に〜ない | “not at all, not in the slightest” | 一向に進まない |
| 一斉に | “all at once, simultaneously” (different word) | 一斉に立つ |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Pairing with an affirmative: ✗ 一概に正しい → 一概に must pair with a negative (一概には言えない).
- Confusing look-alikes: 一概に (sweepingly) ≠ 一向に (not at all) ≠ 一斉に (all at once) ≠ 一気に (in one go).
- Often adds は: 「一概には言えない」 with は is more natural.
- Adding を/だ: the adverb modifies; followed by 言えない/否定できない etc.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
一概に〜ない means “cannot generalize, can't say sweepingly across the board,” used to negate an overgeneralization, pointing out exceptions and different cases, keeping judgment flexible and avoiding painting everyone with one brush (can't generalize that expensive is good, that all young people are like that). 一概に must pair with the negative ない, often as 「一概には言えない」. Common in argument and critique to show a careful, non-dogmatic stance. Don't confuse it with the look-alikes 一向に・一斉に・一気に. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: 一概に〜ない = can't generalize (sweepingly) (must pair with a negative).
- Pairing: 一概に must pair with ない; often 一概には言えない.
- Distinction: 一概に (sweepingly) vs 一向に (not at all) vs 一斉に (all at once) — look-alike traps.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「高ければ良いとは、___言えない。」（不能一概而論）
(A) 一概に (B) 一向に (C) 一斉に (D) 一気に
Q2. 「一概に」とよく呼応するのは?
(A) 〜ない（否定） (B) 〜たい (C) 〜よう (D) 〜ろ
Q3. 「一概に悪いとは言えない」の意味は?
(A) 不能一概說是壞的（有例外）
(B) 一定是壞的
(C) 絕對是好的
(D) 不在乎好壞
Q4. 「一概に〜ない」の意味は?
(A) 不能一概(籠統)而論
(B) 完全否定
(C) 強烈肯定
(D) 命令
Q5. 用法が正しいのは?
(A) 一概には判断できない。 (B) 一概に正しい(肯定)。
(C) 一概に行く。 (D) 一概にだ高い。
答案解析
1. (A) 一概に ── 不能一概而論。
2. (A) 〜ない ── 必與否定呼應。
3. (A) ── 不能一概說是壞的。
4. (A) ── 不能一概而論。
5. (A) ── 「一概には判断できない」正確。