～までもない

• Reading: までもない
• Romaji: made mo nai
• Formation: Verb dictionary form + までもない

Meaning

An expression meaning 'there is no need to go so far as to' or 'it goes without saying.' It indicates that an action is unnecessary because the situation does not warrant it.

までもない expresses that doing something would be excessive or pointless because the matter is already obvious, resolved, or trivial enough not to require it. It implies that the action in question is too much for the situation at hand — going further than necessary. For example, 言うまでもない means 'it goes without saying' (there is no need to even say it). Compared to ことはない, which simply states 'no need to,' までもない carries the added nuance of 'it's not even worth going that far.' It is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts and attaches to the dictionary form of verbs. The related form までもなく functions as a conjunctive, meaning 'without even needing to.'

Examples

1. 彼の実力は言うまでもない。 His ability goes without saying.
2. こんな簡単な問題は説明するまでもない。 There is no need to explain such a simple problem.
3. わざわざ会議を開くまでもない。メールで済む話だ。 There is no need to go so far as to hold a meeting. An email will suffice.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, business

Tone: matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 健康が大切なのは言うまでもない。
• この程度の傷なら病院に行くまでもない。
• 確認するまでもなく、答えは明らかだ。

Don't Say

• 宿題をするまでもない。(Using までもない to skip a required task — までもない implies the task is objectively unnecessary, not that you don't want to do it) → 宿題はしなくてもいい。
• 朝ご飯を食べるまでもない。(Using までもない for personal preference — it should convey that the action is genuinely excessive for the situation) → 朝ご飯は食べなくてもいい。

Origin & History

Composed of まで (the particle meaning 'to the extent of / as far as') plus もない ('not even'). Literally, 'it does not even go as far as doing X' — expressing that the action is unnecessary.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal