Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 2: 14/17

を措(お)いて他(ほか)に〜ないNo...but, Nothing else but, None other than

Structure

Noun + をおいてほか + には(1) + … + ない

(1)に

Details

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    Formal

About をおいてほかに〜ない

を措(お)いて is a grammar pattern that expresses something similar to 'none other than (A)', or 'nothing else but (A)'. を措(お)いて is a combination of the adverbial particle を, and the て-form of the う-Verb 措(お)く 'to set aside'. In this way, the literal meaning is similar to English phrases like 'setting aside (A), (B)', where (B) will be a broad statement about something that cannot be fulfilled by anything but (A).

を措(お)いて will follow nouns or noun phrases, and frequently have 他(ほか)にない directly after it, emphasizing the point that 'there is no other'.

を措(お)いて tends to only be used when the speaker positively evaluates (A), and is giving it praise in saying that nothing else can compare to it.

Fun Fact

As this grammar point regularly appears in hiragana, it may be helpful to remember that this uses 措(お)く 'to set aside', rather than 置く 'to place'. It may be easy to confuse these meanings, as they are very similar, and are classified as 同訓異字(どうくんいじ). These are words that have the same kun-yomi reading, and also have a similar meaning. There are hundreds of examples of these in the language, so memorizing words with the same readings will help in identifying the meaning of new kanji at a later stage.

Examples

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    長年(ながねん)付(つ)き合(あ)ってきたパートナーに別(わか)れを切(き)り出(だ)すのなら明日(あした)をおいて他(ほか)にはない。

    If you're going to broach the subject of breaking up with a long-time partner, there's nothing like tomorrow. (no choice but)

    我(わ)が子(こ)の世話(せわ)を安心(あんしん)して任(まか)せられるのは、実(じつ)の両親(りょうしん)と妻(つま)をおいて他(ほか)にはいません。

    When it comes to entrusting the care of my child with peace of mind, there's none other than we, his biological parents, and my wife.

    もう今年(ことし)で四十歳(よんじゅっさい)になる事(こと)だし、結婚(けっこん)を本気(ほんき)で考(かんが)えているのなら次(つぎ)の機会(きかい)をおいて他(ほか)にはないだろう。

    Since you're already going to be 40 years old this year, if you're going to seriously think about marriage, then the next chance is all there is, right? (nothing but)

    日本語(にほんご)の勉強(べんきょう)を始(はじ)めたばかりの初心者(しょしんしゃ)の方(かた)におすすめするアプリを一つ(ひとつ)あげるとするなら、「文(ぶん)プロ」を措(お)いて他(ほか)にありません。

    If I were to mention an app that I would recommend for beginners that have just started learning Japanese then it would be none other than 'Bunpro.'

    探偵(たんてい)は容疑者(ようぎしゃ)に言(い)う：「とぼけないでください。これほど事件(じけん)について知(し)っているのは犯人(はんにん)自身(じしん)を措(お)いて他(ほか)にいないでしょう。」

    Detective speaking to the suspect: 'Don't play dumb. No one but the murderer himself knows this much about the murder.'

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