All JLPT grammar
N1

Noun を おいて他に Verb ない

Means 'apart from ~ there's nothing else,' implying the Noun is the best or most suitable choice.

At a glance

Noun をおいて他ほかに~ない means "apart from [noun], there is no one / nothing else." It praises the noun as the best or only suitable choice, and it is used in formal speech and writing.

[Noun] をおいて 他に いない / ない

この仕事しごとを任まかせられるのは、彼かれをおいて他ほかにいない。 There's no one but him I can trust with this job.


How to form it

This expression attaches directly to a noun. The ending is negative.

Attaches to Pattern Example
Noun (person) Noun をおいて他ほかにいない 彼かれをおいて他ほかにいない
Noun (thing, place, method) Noun をおいて他ほかにない 話はなし合あいをおいて他ほかにない
Noun + "can't think of" Noun をおいて他ほかに考かんがえられない このホテルをおいて他ほかに考かんがえられない

Register: formal, mainly written language and speeches. For polite speech, use いません / ありません.

Examples

  • この仕事しごとを任まかせられるのは、彼かれをおいて他ほかにいない。

    There is no one but him who can be trusted with this job.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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