～どころではない
not the time/place for
～どころではない emphatically denies that the situation allows for something. It attaches to a noun or a dictionary-form verb and corresponds to English “this is no time for ...” or “... is out of the question”. In casual speech it becomes どころじゃない.
1. Denying that now is the time for something
The speaker rejects an activity as unthinkable under the current circumstances, often pushing back against a suggestion.
今は旅行どころではない。
“This is no time for traveling.”
- 今（いま）= now
- は = topic marker
- 旅行（りょこう）= trip, travel
- どころではない = is out of the question, is no time for
2. With a reason clause
Very often the sentence first gives the reason with a て-form clause, then declares the activity impossible. The past form is どころではなかった.
隣の工事がうるさくて、勉強するどころではない。
“The construction next door is so noisy that studying is out of the question.”
- 隣（となり）= next door
- の = linking particle
- 工事（こうじ）= construction work
- が = subject marker
- うるさくて = is noisy, and so (て-form giving the reason)
- 勉強する（べんきょうする）= to study
仕事が忙しくて、食事どころではなかった。
“I was so busy with work that eating was out of the question.”
- 仕事（しごと）= work
- 忙しくて（いそがしくて）= was busy, and so (て-form giving the reason)
- 食事（しょくじ）= meal, eating
- どころではなかった = was out of the question (past)
How to form it
Noun + どころではない / Verb (dictionary form) + どころではない
- 旅行（りょこう）= trip → 旅行どころではない（りょこうどころではない）= no time for a trip
- 勉強する（べんきょうする）= to study → 勉強するどころではない（べんきょうするどころではない）= studying is out of the question
- 食事（しょくじ）= meal → 食事どころではなかった（しょくじどころではなかった）= eating was out of the question (past)
Key idea
～どころではない is not a mild “I can't”. It is an emphatic “absolutely not under these circumstances.”. The situation itself makes the activity unthinkable.
Built on the same stem
Updated .