“〜to iu made mo naku・iwazu to shireta”: It Goes Without Saying [JLPT N1]

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

A written way to say something is self-evident

「言わずして明らかだ」 — self-evident without saying

You already know 「言うまでもない (needless to say),」 and it has more written, more classical siblings — 「その重要性は、言わずして明らかだ (its importance is self-evident).」 「〜というまでもなく／〜言わずして」 = needless to say, self-evident. They're the written, solemn versions of “self-evident.” This guide clarifies 「というまでもなく (= the written version of 言うまでもなく)」 and 「言わずして (the classical ‘without saying, ～'),」 separating them from the colloquial 「言うまでもない.」

Core: needless to say, self-evident (so obvious it needn't be said)

This is a set of written expressions for “self-evident”:

①「〜というまでもなく」 = needless to say, it goes without saying (= the written version of 「言うまでもなく」):

• 健康の大切さは、というまでもなく、誰もが知っている (the importance of health, needless to say, everyone knows).
• 準備が重要なのは言うまでもなく、実行力も問われる (that preparation matters goes without saying; execution is also called for).

②「〜言わずして」 = without saying (it's) ～, without words ～ (classical, written):

• その功績は、言わずして明らかだ (its achievement is self-evident).
• 言わずと知れた名店だ (it's a famous restaurant that goes without saying／everyone knows).

Feel: both mean “(something is) obvious, self-evident, known without saying.” 「というまでもなく」 is a more written phrasing of 「言うまでもなく」; 「言わずして」 is the classical, literary “without saying (it's) ～, without words ～” (言わずして明らか = self-evident), plus the fixed 「言わずと知れた (that goes without saying／everyone knows).」 In English: needless to say, self-evident, it goes without saying.

Attachment & forms

Example sentences

• 彼が優勝候補なのは、言うまでもなく、実力が抜きん出ているからだ。(That he's a title contender is, needless to say, because his ability stands out.)
• 環境保護の必要性は、今さら言うまでもない。(The need for environmental protection goes without saying now.)
• 努力の大切さは、言わずして理解できるだろう。(The importance of effort can be understood without saying.)
• 彼は言わずと知れた、この分野の第一人者だ。(He is, needless to say, the foremost figure in this field.)
• 結果は、言わずもがなである。(The result is self-evident／goes without saying.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「というまでもなく」 = the written version of 「言うまでもなく」 (needless to say). This is the key to understanding. 「〜というまでもなく／言うまでもなく」 both mean “(something is obvious,) needless to say, it goes without saying, no need to specially say it,” the adverbial form of 「言うまでもない (needless to say)」 (see 〈言うまでもない〉). 「というまでもなく」 is a touch more written, solemn than 「言うまでもなく.」 It often goes mid-sentence, for “A (needless to say, inherently ～), (and moreover) B is also ～”: 安全が第一なのは言うまでもなく、効率も重要だ (that safety is first goes without saying; efficiency also matters). Test: to say in writing “(something) is needless to say, goes without saying” → というまでもなく／言うまでもなく (see 〈言うまでもない〉).

② 「言わずして」 = the classical ‘without saying (it's) ～, without words ～.' This is the more literary one. 「言わず (not saying) ＋ して」 = “without saying (it's) ～, without words ～,” a classical, literary expression, mostly with 「明らか (obvious), 理解できる,」 for “without saying, it's already clear／can be understood”: その価値は言わずして明らかだ (its value is self-evident), 真意は言わずして伝わった (the true intent was conveyed without words). Plus the fixed 「言わずと知れた ＋ noun」 = “a well-known ～ that goes without saying”: 言わずと知れた大スターだ (a superstar that goes without saying). Test: to classically, in writing say “without words ～, self-evident” → 言わずして (明らか); “a well-known ～” → 言わずと知れた ＋ noun.

③ Separate them from 「言うまでもない」 — というまでもなく／言わずして are written versions, 言うまでもない is more general. All three mean “self-evident,” differing in register. 「言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 = needless to say, it goes without saying (more general, spoken and written, see 〈言うまでもない〉): それは言うまでもない (that goes without saying), 努力が大切なのは言うまでもなく (that effort matters goes without saying). It's the most general “self-evident,” common in speech and writing. 「というまでもなく」 = needless to say (more written): a touch more written, solemn than 「言うまでもなく.」 「言わずして」 = without words ～ (classical, literary): the most classical, refined, mostly for solemn, literary writing. Difference (register from general to classical): 言うまでもない (general, see 〈言うまでもない〉) ＜ というまでもなく (more written) ＜ 言わずして (classical, literary). Test: to generally say “needless to say” → 言うまでもない; more written → というまでもなく; classical, refined → 言わずして. (Colloquially, for “of course, needless to say,” 「もちろん」 is most natural.)

🔄 Compare with similar forms: というまでもなく／言わずして／言うまでもない／もちろん

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜というまでもなく／〜言わずして」 = needless to say, self-evident — three points: ①「というまでもなく」 = the written version of 「言うまでもなく」 (needless to say, see 〈言うまでもない〉); ②「言わずして」 = the classical ‘without words ～' (言わずして明らか = self-evident; plus 言わずと知れた = well-known); ③ register from general to classical: 言うまでもない ＜ というまでもなく ＜ 言わずして. This set is the written, refined version of “self-evident” — to solemnly say in an essay or critique “(this point) needless to say, is self-evident,” 「というまでもなく」 has more weight than the colloquial 「もちろん」; for more classical refinement, use 「言わずして／言わずと知れた.」 For everyday speech, just use 「言うまでもない」 or 「もちろん.」

❓ FAQ

Q: What's the difference between 「というまでもなく」 and 「言うまでもない」?

Same meaning (both “needless to say, it goes without saying”), differing in register — 「というまでもなく」 is a touch more written. 「言うまでもない／言うまでもなく」 = needless to say (general, spoken and written, see 〈言うまでもない〉): it's the most general, common “self-evident,” used in speech and writing: それは言うまでもないことだ (that's a thing that goes without saying), 努力が大切なのは言うまでもなく、才能も必要だ (that effort matters goes without saying; talent is also needed). 「というまでもなく」 = needless to say (more written, solemn): a touch more written, solemn than 「言うまでもなく,」 more formal in feel: 安全性はというまでもなく、利便性も追求する (safety goes without saying; convenience is also pursued). Difference: 「言うまでもない」 more general (common in speech and writing, the commonest, see 〈言うまでもない〉); 「というまでもなく」 more written, solemn (formal writing). Test: to generally say “needless to say, it goes without saying” → 言うまでもない (most general); more formal, written → というまでもなく. Same meaning, mostly interchangeable, only that 「というまでもなく」 is a touch more written. (Colloquially for “of course,” 「もちろん」 is most natural.)

Q: What does 「言わずと知れた」 mean? How is it used?

「言わずと知れた」 = “well-known (without needing to say), that goes without saying, everyone knows,” a fixed idiom containing 「言わず (not saying).」 Its literal is “known (知れた) without saying (言わず)” = “known to all without saying, well-known,” used to modify the following noun, stressing “this is a universally known, needs-no-introduction ～”: 彼は言わずと知れた、業界の第一人者だ (he is, needless to say, the foremost figure in the industry — everyone knows), ここは言わずと知れた観光名所だ (this is a well-known tourist spot), 言わずと知れた世界的スターだ (a world-famous star that goes without saying). It's mostly for introducing a universally known, renowned person or thing, with the feel “I needn't say much, everyone knows.” Test: to say “a well-known ～ that goes without saying” (modifying a noun) → 言わずと知れた ＋ noun. It's cognate with 「言わずして (without words ～)」 (both contain 「言わず = not saying」), but 「言わずと知れた」 is a fixed attributive modifier (＋ noun, = well-known), while 「言わずして」 mostly takes 「明らか」 etc. for “self-evident.” Both are written, refined expressions of the 「言わず (not saying)」 family.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「健康が大切___、毎日の適度な運動が欠かせない。」(The importance of health goes without saying; moderate daily exercise is indispensable)

(A) というまでもなく　(B) というより　(C) どころか　(D) にもかかわらず

Q2. 「言わずと知れた」の意味として正しいものは？

(A) Widely known / needless to say, everyone knows it

(B) A secret that can't be spoken

(C) Something no one knows

(D) Content that was stated incorrectly

Q3. 「彼女の実力は言わずと知れたものだ。」What does this sentence mean?

(A) Her ability is acknowledged and widely known

(B) No one knows about her ability

(C) She actually has no real ability

(D) Her ability is severely underestimated

Q4. 「〜というまでもなく」の語感として最も適切なものは？

(A) Written-style 「needless to say ～ (self-evident)」

(B) Casual colloquial 「probably」

(C) Expresses a question

(D) Expresses a command

Q5. 「というまでもなく」と意味が最も近いものはどれか？

(A) 言うまでもなく　(B) ばかりに　(C) どころではない　(D) にすぎない

Answer Explanations

1. (A) というまでもなく ── needless to say 〜 (obvious), a written expression.

2. (A) Well-known to all ── 「言わずと知れた」 ＝ everyone knows it without needing to be told.

3. (A) Her ability is acknowledged and well-known to all ── 言わずと知れた ＝ widely acknowledged.

4. (A) ── 「というまでもなく」 is the written form of ‘needless to say 〜'.

5. (A) 言うまでもなく ── The two are synonymous.