JLPT N1 grammar

〜だけではすまないmeaning and usage

Meaning

Doing A is not going to suffice; it's not going to end with just A

How to form it

  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveだけでは済まない
  • noun（という）だけでは済まない

How it is used

The matter won't stop at A; something more serious will follow, such as greater responsibility or a heavier penalty, as in 「謝るだけでは済まない」. The opposite, 「〜だけで済む」, means A alone will do.

Examples

  1. このまま雨が降らないと、不作というだけではすまないぞ。

    If it continues to not rain, poor crops won't be the end of it.

  2. このまま放っておいたら、修理するだけでは済まなくなる。

    If we leave it like this, a simple repair won't be enough.

  3. 約束を破ったら、今度は注意されるだけでは済まないよ。

    If you break your promise, this time you'll get more than a warning.