“〜no burui ni hairu・no uchi ni hairu”: Counts As / Belongs To the 〜 Category [JLPT N2]

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

Judging that something falls into a certain category

「この程度なら、まだ上手なうちに入らない」 — whether it even counts as ‘that category'

「この程度なら、まだ上手なうちに入らない」 (at this level, it doesn't even count as good yet) — 「〜のうちに入る・〜の部類に入る」 = count among ～, be classed as that kind of ～, used to judge whether something “(by some standard) counts as／falls into a category.” It often appears in the negative 「まだ〜うちに入らない (doesn't yet count).」 This guide covers these two classifying patterns and how the feel differs from the objective 「〜に属する.」

Core: count within a range／be classed in a category

Both express “placing something within a range or category,” with slightly different emphases:

• 〜のうちに入る = count among ～, more or less qualify as (judged against a standard, barely included): これくらいの雨は、降ったうちに入らない (this little rain doesn't count as raining), 彼はまだ若いうちに入る (he still counts as young).
• 〜の部類に入る = belong to that kind of ～ (an objective classifying judgment): この値段なら安い部類に入る (at this price it's in the cheap category), 彼は真面目な部類だ (he's in the serious category).

Feel: “counts as ～, classed as ～” — the core is “measured against some standard/range, whether something counts, and which category it falls into.” 「のうちに入る」 carries a “(barely) counted in” flavor, often in the negative 「うちに入らない (doesn't count)」; 「の部類に入る」 leans toward the classifying judgment “belongs to a category.”

How it attaches

See it in context

• こんなミス、失敗のうちに入らないよ。(A mistake like this doesn't even count as a failure.)
• 日本語が挨拶程度では、話せるうちに入らない。(Japanese at greeting level doesn't count as being able to speak it.)
• この街は、家賃が安い部類に入る。(In this city rent is in the cheap category.)
• 彼は同期の中でも、優秀な部類だ。(Even among his cohort, he's in the excellent category.)
• 週三回の運動なら、よく運動するうちに入るだろう。(Exercising three times a week probably counts as exercising a lot.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① The commonest is the negative 「〜うちに入らない」 = doesn't count as, isn't even ～. 「〜のうちに入る」 actually most often appears in the negative: 「〜うちに入らない」 = “doesn't count as ～, isn't even ～.” This rain doesn't count as raining (この雨は降ったうちに入らない), this level doesn't count as being able (この程度では話せるうちに入らない), this trifle doesn't count as trouble (これくらい迷惑のうちに入らない). It carries the feel of “(compared to the real standard) far from it, nowhere near qualifying,” often used for modesty (what I did is nothing) or downplaying (this trifle doesn't count). Learning this pattern, mastering the negative 「うちに入らない (doesn't count)」 first is most practical.

② 「のうちに入る」 carries ‘barely counted in,' not objective belonging. 「〜のうちに入る」 differs in feel from the plain 「〜に属する／〜に入る (objectively belongs).」 「のうちに入る」 carries the subjective judgment of “measured against a standard, whether it counts, whether it's barely included”: 週三回なら運動するうちに入る (three times a week counts as exercising — a “does it qualify” judgment). Whereas 「魚類に属する (belongs to fish)」 is purely objective classification. So 「のうちに入る」 is mostly used for judgments with a standard, a threshold, praise or blame possible (counts as skilled/many/a failure), not rigid classification.

③ 「の部類に入る」 = classed in a category (leans objective), slightly divided from 「のうちに入る」. 「〜の部類に入る／の部類だ」 focuses on “being grouped into a category, being among the ～-ish bunch,” more like classification after comparison than 「のうちに入る」: この店は高い部類に入る (this shop is in the pricey category — grouped after comparing peers), 彼は無口な部類だ (he's the quiet type). It's often used to place something into the ～-leaning category within a group/range. Finer: to say “whether it counts／qualifies (by a standard)” (often negative) use のうちに入る; to say “grouped into the ～-leaning category” (classification) use の部類に入る. The two often overlap, but のうちに入る is more often negative, 部類に入る more classifying.

🔄 Compare: のうちに入る／の部類に入る／〜に属する／〜にあたる

💡 How to remember this

「〜のうちに入る・〜の部類に入る」 are both classifying judgments — three points: ① the most practical is the negative 「〜うちに入らない」 = doesn't count, isn't even ～ (この程度では話せるうちに入らない = this level doesn't count as being able to speak), often for modesty or downplaying; ② 「のうちに入る」 carries a subjective ‘does it count by a standard' flavor, unlike the purely objective 「〜に属する」 — used for judgments with a threshold, praise or blame (counts as many/skilled/a failure); ③ 「の部類に入る」 leans ‘grouped into the ～-leaning category after comparison within a set' (安い部類, 優秀な部類). Division to remember: whether it qualifies (often negative) = のうちに入る, grouped into the ～ kind (classification) = の部類に入る, purely objective belonging = 〈に属する〉. The handiest everyday line is the modest 「いやいや、上手なうちに入りませんよ (oh no, it doesn't even count as good)」.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: What exactly does 「〜のうちに入らない」 mean and how do I use it?

「〜のうちに入らない」 = “doesn't count as ～, isn't even ～, isn't really ～,” the negative of 「〜のうちに入る (count among ～),」 and the commonest form of this pattern. It means “(compared to the real standard) nowhere near qualifying to be counted within ～,” with the feel of “this level is far off, not worth mentioning.” It attaches to a noun or adjective: この程度のけがは、けがのうちに入らない (an injury this minor doesn't even count as an injury), 月に一冊では、読書家のうちに入らない (one book a month doesn't count as a bookworm), 彼の実力ならこんなの失敗のうちに入らない (for his ability, this doesn't even count as a failure). It has two typical uses: ① modesty — when praised, to say “this is nothing”: 「料理が上手ですね」「いえ、こんなの上手なうちに入りません」 (oh no, this doesn't even count as good); ② downplaying — to make something out as “nothing much”: これくらいの残業、残業のうちに入らない (a bit of overtime like this is nothing). To express “(compared to the real standard) far off, doesn't count,” 「〜うちに入らない」 is the most vivid.

Q: What's the difference between 「のうちに入る」 and 「の部類に入る」? Are they interchangeable?

Close in meaning (both place something within a range/category), often interchangeable, but different in emphasis and usual form. 「〜のうちに入る」 stresses “measured against a standard, whether it counts,” with a subjective threshold judgment, and most often uses the negative 「うちに入らない (doesn't count)」: この雨は降ったうちに入らない (this rain doesn't count as raining), 週一回でも運動するうちに入る (even once a week counts as exercising). It asks “does it qualify to be counted within this range,” often for modesty, downplaying. 「〜の部類に入る」 stresses “after comparing within a group, being grouped into the ～-leaning kind,” leans classifying, mostly affirmative: この値段は安い部類に入る (this price is in the cheap category), 彼はおとなしい部類だ (he's the quiet type). It asks “which category, which kind it's on the side of.” Simply: to say “does it (even) count／qualify” (often negative, modest) → のうちに入る; to say “grouped into the ～-leaning bunch among peers” (classification, comparison) → の部類に入る. E.g. 「彼は優秀な部類だ (he's in the excellent category — classifying within a group)」 is more natural; while 「こんなミス失敗のうちに入らない (a mistake like this doesn't count as a failure — does it qualify)」 fits うちに入る. The two differ subtly, but grasping “うちに入る = whether it counts (often negative), 部類に入る = which category” suffices.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼の歌は、プロ___くらいうまい。」(good enough to count as professional-tier)

(A) の部類に入る　(B) について　(C) によって　(D) において

Q2. 「まじめな部類に入る」の意味は?

(A) Counts as the diligent type

(B) Not diligent at all

(C) The least diligent

(D) Unrelated to diligence

Q3. 「序の口のうちに入る」の意味は?

(A) Still just a trifle / only the beginning level

(B) Already the hardest level

(C) Doesn't count at all

(D) It's over

Q4. 「の部類に入る」の働きは?

(A) Classifies something into a certain category / level

(B) Indicates contrast (adversative)

(C) Indicates time

(D) Indicates a command

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 安いほうの部類に入る。　(B) 安いを部類に入る。

(C) 安いの部類に入るのに。　(D) 安いが部類入る。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) の部類に入る ── Good enough to count as professional-tier.

2. (A) ── Counts as the diligent type.

3. (A) ── Still just a trifle.

4. (A) ── Classifies into a category / level.

5. (A) ── 「安いほうの部類に入る」is correct.