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かけがえのない Japanese meaning | Kotomora

かけがえのない

か

け

が

え

の

な

い

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

expression, noun-modifying (irregular)

irreplaceable

usually written using kana alone

Describes something so precious that nothing else can take its place; often used for people, memories, or unique items.

家か族ぞくはかけがえのない存そん在ざいだ。
Family is an irreplaceable presence.
この写しゃ真しんは私わたしにとってかけがえの

ない

宝たから

物もの

です

。

This photo is an irreplaceable treasure to me.

Written forms

かけがえの無ない
Kanji spelling using 無い; less common but still seen.
掛かけ替がえのない
Full kanji spelling; used in formal or literary contexts.

Kanji

無nothingness, none, ain't
掛hang, suspend, depend
替exchange, spare, substitute

Similar words

代かわりがきかない
Similar in meaning but more literal: 'cannot be substituted'. かけがえのない carries a stronger emotional weight of preciousness.
唯ゆい一いつ無む二に
Means 'one and only', emphasizing uniqueness. かけがえのない focuses on the inability to replace something valuable.

Etymology

From 掛け替え (kakegae, 'replacement') + の (possessive particle) + ない (negative form of ある), literally 'there is no replacement'. The phrase became a fixed expression meaning 'irreplaceable'.