Have you ever done something and thought, "Whew, that was hard work!" only to have a friend say, "That? That's not even work!"

That little sting of being told your effort doesn't even reach the "starting line" of a category is exactly what we are learning today!
We’re diving into the N1 expression うちに入らない (うちにはいらない / uchi ni hairanai).

It’s a bit of a tough one because it’s used when someone (usually with a bit of a strict eye!) judges that something is just too low-level to be counted as part of a group. It’s like saying, "That doesn't even count!" or "That's not even worth mentioning as X."

Don't worry, though! Even if your study session was short today, it definitely counts as studying with me!
Let’s jump in!

とは言えない (to ha ienai) vs のうちに入らない (no uchi ni hairanai)
Both are used to deny that something fits a category, but the speaker’s attitude and the standard of judgment are different.

とは言えない (to ha ienai)
This is a more objective, factual way to say "You can't really call it X." It is used when something simply does not meet the definition.

これは料理とは言えない。
これ は りょうり と は いえない。
kore ha ryouri to ha ienai.
This cannot be called cooking. (A factual statement.)

のうちに入らない (no uchi ni hairanai)
This emphasizes the speaker's subjective, often strict evaluation. It implies that the level is so low or trivial that it doesn't even deserve to be in that category.

あんなの、料理のうちに入らないよ。
あんな の、りょうり の うち に はいらない よ。
anna no, ryouri no uchi ni hairanai yo.
That doesn't even count as cooking! (It's too low-level to be called cooking.)

Important Usage Notes
Common categories for this expression
We often use this with nouns related to Skills/Results (cooking, work), Hardship/Pain (mistakes, injuries), Natural phenomena (heat, wind), or even Human relationships (friends, lovers) to say they haven't reached the required "depth" or "level."

Be careful when talking about someone else's effort!
This expression sounds like you are rejecting or looking down on someone's hard work. Using it for others (like a subordinate's report) is very rude because it sounds like you're saying their work is "not good enouh." However, using it for yourself is a great way to show humility!

あんなの、プロの仕事のうちに入らないよ。
あんな の、ぷろ の しごと の うち に はいらない よ。
anna no, puro no shigoto no uchi ni hairanai yo.
That doesn't even count as professional work.(Very rude!)

私の努力なんて、皆さんに比べれば頑張ったうちに入らないですよ。
わたしのどりょくなんて、みなさんにくらべればがんばったうちにはいらないですよ。
watashi no doryoku nante, minasan ni kurabereba ganbatta uchi ni hairanai desu yo.
My effort doesn't even count as 'hard work' compared to all of you. (Humble and polite!)

この程度の批判は、気にするうちに入らない。
この ていど の ひはん は、き に する うち に はいらない。
kono teido no hihan ha, ki ni suru uchi ni hairanai.
This level of criticism isn't even worth worrying about.

このくらいの距離を歩くのは、運動したうちに入らないよ。
この くらい の きょり を あるく の は、うんどう した うち に はいらない よ。
kono kurai no kyori wo aruku no ha, undou shita uchi ni hairanai yo.
Walking this kind of distance doesn't even count as having exercised.

一度話したくらいでは、知り合ったうちには入らないと思うよ。
いちど はなした くらい で は、しりあった うち に は はいらない と おもう よ。
ichido hanashita kurai de ha, shiriatta uchi ni ha hairanai to omou yo.
I don't think just talking once counts as having "met" someone.

この程度の間違いは、失敗のうちに入らないよ。気にしないで！
この ていど の まちがい は、しっぱい の うち に はいらない よ。き に しないで！
kono teido no machigai ha, shippai no uchi ni hairanai yo. ki ni shinaide!
This level of mistake doesn't even count as a failure. Don't worry about it!

30分程度の遅刻は、彼にとっては遅刻のうちには入らないらしい。
さんじゅっぷん ていど の ちこく は、かれ に とっては ちこく の うち に は はいらない らしい。
sanjuppun teido no chikoku ha, kare ni totte ha chikoku no uchi ni ha hairanai rashii.
Apparently, being about 30 minutes late doesn't even count as being late for him.

この程度の辛さは、激辛好きの私には辛いうちに入らないよ。
この ていど の からさ は、げきから ずき の わたし に は からい うち に はいらない よ。
kono teido no karasa ha, gekikara zuki no watashi ni ha karai uchi ni hairanai yo.
This level of spiciness doesn't even count as spicy for a spicy-food lover like me.

掃除したと言っても、これではまだ綺麗なうちには入らない。ほら、ここまだ汚れてる！
そうじ した と いっても、これ で は まだ きれい な うち に は はいらない。ほら、ここ まだ よごれてる！
souji shita to ittemo, kore de ha mada kirei na uchi ni ha hairanai. hora, koko mada yogoreteru!
Even if you say you cleaned, this doesn't count as being clean yet. Look, it's still dirty here!

• Grammar Point: うちに(は)入らない (uchi ni(ha) hairanai)
  
• JLPT Level: N1
• Meaning: Not really, can’t be regarded as…, doesn't even count as...
• Quick Explanation: Use うちに(は)入らない when you want to express that something is so far below the expected standard or level that it cannot be included in that category.
  
  
  

So that’s how we use うちに(は)入らない!
It’s a powerful word, but controlling its "strength" is the real N1 challenge. Use it for yourself to be humble, or for situations to show you've got grit, but be gentle with others!

ちょっと 勉強したくらいじゃ、勉強したうちに入らない…なんて言わずに少しでも頑張ろうね！
ちょっと べんきょう した くらい じゃ、べんきょう した うち に はいらない…なんて いわず に、まいにち こつこつ がんばりましょう！
chotto benkyou shita kurai ja, benkyou shita uchi ni hairanai... nante iwazu ni, mainichi kotsukotsu ganbarimashou!
Don't say things like "just studying a little bit doesn't count as studying"... let's do our best every day, bit by bit!

You're making amazing progress, so don't be too strict with yourself! Keep that N1 spirit high!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

Get Hikari's JLPT Mock Exams & Preparation Lessons!

Whether you are studying to pass the JLPT or looking for a challenge in your learning journey, these courses are perfect for you!