〜に過ぎない
Merely 〜に過ぎない
Meaning
"Merely ~", "no more than ~".
Formation
[noun] + に過ぎない · [verb plain] + に過ぎない
Notes
It belittles what it names: only that and nothing more. It often pairs with ただ or ほんの, and it is a judgement of insignificance rather than a statement of amount.
Examples
それは言い訳（いいわけ）に過（す）ぎません。
That is nothing but an excuse.
Breakdown
私（わたし）は一人（ひとり）の学生（がくせい）に過（す）ぎません。
I am no more than an ordinary student.
Breakdown
これはほんの一例（いちれい）に過（す）ぎません。
This is only one example among many.
Breakdown
彼（かれ）は指示（しじ）に従（したが）ったに過（す）ぎません。
He merely followed instructions.
Breakdown
全体（ぜんたい）の一（いち）割（わり）に過（す）ぎない数字（すうじ）です。
It is a figure amounting to a mere ten per cent of the whole.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜わけだ
That is why 〜わけだ
Draws a conclusion that follows naturally — "so that's why ~", "no wonder ~", "it works ou...
〜わけではない
It is not that 〜わけではない
A partial denial — "it is not that ~", "that does not mean ~". Softens rather than rejects...
〜わけがない
There is no way 〜わけがない
A flat denial of possibility — "there is no way ~", "it is impossible that ~".
〜に決まっている
Bound to be 〜に決まっている
Says an outcome is obvious — "of course ~", "it is bound to be ~".
〜とは限らない
Not necessarily 〜とは限らない
"Not necessarily ~", "it is not always the case that ~".
〜ものだ
One should / used to 〜ものだ
Three uses: a general truth, nostalgia for what one used to do, and mild moral advice.
〜っこない
Could not possibly 〜っこない
A blunt, casual denial — "there is no chance ~", "could not possibly ~".
〜というものだ
That is what ~ is 〜というものだ
"That is what ~ really is" — the speaker's verdict stated as a general truth.
〜にほかならない
Nothing other than 〜にほかならない
"Is nothing other than ~", "is precisely ~".