とんでもない

What it means

What does とんでもない mean? It denotes something far outside the realm of acceptability or belief, used to express sharp disbelief, denial, or dismissal in everyday Japanese. It functions as an interjection or a qualifying remark to push back against a claim or suggestion with strong emotion.

Main meanings

• Strong denial or incredulity in response to a proposal or claim; typically casual speech.
• Describes a situation as extreme, outrageous, or beyond belief; can carry a dramatic or humorous tone.
• Modest denial or downplaying when praised, by responding with a quiet or exaggerated 'not at all' nuance.

How to use it

Used in casual to semi-formal contexts; in everyday conversation, とんでもない appears as a standalone interjection or appended to nouns and phrases to emphasize negation or surprise. Polite usage adds です or ですか to soften or show respect: そんなことはとんでもないです. Examples include reacting to praise with そんなことはとんでもない, or rejecting a suggestion with それはとんでもない.