〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - It Is Better

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article '〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - It Is Better'

Anna Baffa Volpe

6 min reading time

Updated on 9 September 2023

〜に越したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - It Is Better

The expression 〜に()したことはない (ni koshita koto wa nai) commonly means it is better, there is nothing better than, it is the best to, it is safiest to.

The particle は wa is often omitted colloquially and the form becomes 〜に()したことない.

Let's have a look at how the structure 〜に()したことはない is formed and how it is used in the Japanese language through phrases and examples of common usage.


How 〜に()したことはない is formed

This structure consists of:

  • the particle に
  • ()した is the past tense of the verb ()す which means get over, surpass
  • the noun こと meaning thing, matter, event
  • the particle は wa
  • ない is the negative plain form of ある be, exist

⇨ There is nothing that can get over ⇨ it is the best

This structure is used with Verbs, Adjectives and Nouns.

  • Example with a Verb:
Dictionary form+〜に越したことはない

(だい)()をとるに()したことはない。

There is nothing better than taking care of yourself.

(きゅう)(りょう)(たか)いに()したことはない。

High wages are better.

ルームメイトとは(あい)(しょう)()いに()したことはない。

It's better to get along with your roommate.

  • With Nouns and Adjectives in な we have 2 forms.

In the first form we find:

  • Noun + ()したことはない
  • Adjective in な (without な) + ()したこととはない

In the second form:

  • Noun + である + ()したことはない
  • Adjective in な (without な) +である + ()したことはない
It's better to have a high-performance computer.
(こう)(せい)(のう)な is the Adjective referring to high performance

パソコンは(こう)(せい)(のう)()したことはない。

It's better to have a high-performance computer.

〜に()したことはない to express the best thing to do

The structure 〜に越したことはない is commonly used with the meaning of

  • ~たほうがいい: it is better to do ...
  • ~たほうが(あん)(ぜん)だ it is safer to do ...

The common sense (じょう)(しき) joshiki suggests to perform that particular action among the various choices and options and suggests us that action is the best to do in that circumstance.

We can explain the form using different expressions such as: 出来れば ... 方がいい: if possible, it is better ... and 一般的に ... 方がいいと思われている: it is generally considered better to ...

It's better not strain yourself too much.
()()する verb meaning: work too hard, try too hard, strain oneself

()()はしないに()したことはない。

It's better not strain yourself too much.

とにかく(じゅん)()をしておくに()したことはない。

It's always better to be prepared.

In the previous sentence we find a use of the て form combined with the verb おく: ておく expressing an action performed in advance in order to benefit from it later.

〜に()したことはない to express the ideal thing to do

A common use of this structure concerns the thing that is considered ideal, appropriate and useful in some circumstances.

It is also used when recommending or suggesting something to other people, always according to the common sense (じょう)(しき), evaluating the circumstances.

(やく)(そく)()(かん)より(すこ)(はや)めに()くようにするに()したことはない。

It's best to arrive a little bit earlier than the scheduled time.

(けい)(けん)がなくても(だい)(じょう)()ですが、やはりあるに()したことはありません。

It's okay if you don't have any experience, but it's always better to have one.

Words and expressions used with 〜に()したことはない

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Examples of 〜に()したことはない

(たい)(ふう)()るのが(のう)(こう)になったらしい。まあ(がい)(しゅつ)しないに()したことはない。

It seems like there is a strong possibility that a typhoon is coming. Well, it's better not to go out.

(けん)(こう)のためには(うん)(どう)するに()したことはないが、(しゅう)(かん)()するのが(むずか)しい。

Exercise is good for health, but it is difficult to make it a habit.

⇨ There is nothing better for health than physical activity, but making a habit of it is difficult.

(がっ)(こう)(ちか)いに()したことはない。

Schools should be close by.

(つか)れている(とき)には、ゆっくり(やす)むに()したことはありません。

When you are tired, there is nothing better than a good rest.

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