〜には及ばない (~ni wa oyobanai) — cannot match ~ / not up to ~'s level

In skill, level or records: 'still not up to that' — this form.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N + には及ばない

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

You have worked at the factory for three years. Your skills are good now, but watching the hands of a senior with twenty years there, you think: 'I'm still not at his level.'
It is the slightly formal way to talk about skill, level, records and quality.

Meaning

「〜には及ばない」— 及ぶ = to reach, so 'does not reach that level'.
The topic with 「は」is always the lower one, and the gap may be small (まだ少し先生には及ばない).
For 'I'm far below, no comparison at all' there is the fixed phrase 「足元にも及ばない」(I don't even reach his feet).

How to attach

Straight after a noun: 先輩には及ばない
In the past, 「及ばなかった」: 記録には及ばなかった

Versus what you know

The previous 「とは比べものにならない」marks a huge gap and works in either direction.
N3It overlaps with 「〜ほど〜ない」.

Watch out

After a verb (わざわざ来るには及ばない) it has a different meaning, 'there is no need to' — that is learned separately later; here it is only about a noun's level.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

私の日本語は、まだまだ先生には及ばない。

わたしのにほんごは、まだまだせんせいにはおよばない。

My Japanese is still nowhere near my teacher's.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 先生 = teacher (a higher level) → 「には及ばない」 directly = doesn't reach that level → まだまだ adds 'still a long way to go'.

新しい機械も、細かい作業ではベテランの職人には及ばない。

あたらしいきかいも、こまかいさぎょうではベテランのしょくにんにはおよばない。

Even the new machine can't match a veteran craftsman at fine, detailed work.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 細かい作業では = in fine work (the area being compared) → ベテランの職人 = veteran craftsman (N) → 「には及ばない」 = doesn't reach that level.

今回のタイムは、自分の最高記録には及ばなかった。

こんかいのタイムは、じぶんのさいこうきろくにはおよばなかった。

This time, I fell short of my personal best.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 最高記録 = best record (N) → past form of 「には及ばない」: 及ばなかった = didn't reach it.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「どれだけ練習しても、兄の腕＿＿＿及ばない。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: 及ぶ (to reach) — the particle for 'reach to where'.