Grammar › N2 · 09 Limits and inclusion

〜に過ぎない: is merely; is only

N2 · 09 Limits and inclusion

Says something is just that, and nothing more.

Noun / plain form + に過ぎない (also written にすぎない). Plays down importance. Often 〜というだけに過ぎない. Compare 〜だけだ, which is plainer.

Examples

それは、あなたの想像そうぞうにすぎません。

That is merely your imagination.

私わたしは、ただの一いち社員しゃいんに過すぎないので、決きめる権限けんげんはありません。

I am only an ordinary employee, so I do not have the authority to decide.