〜では済まされない (~de wa sumasarenai) — can't be let off with just ~

Excuses like 'I didn't know', 'a small slip' or 'a joke' won't be accepted — a strong form from the news and from reprimands.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N N + では済まされない

Quote 「…」 + では済まされない

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

On the news: a company leaked customers' personal data, and the president says 'I didn't know.'
A commentator says: 「『知らなかった』では済まされない」— you can't get away with 'I didn't know'.
This is the serious language of news, editorials and reprimands at work.

Meaning

「〜では済まされない」= an excuse or light explanation like ~ will not be accepted by society or by the speaker; there is a heavier responsibility here.
「済まされない」is the passive of 「済ます」(to settle, finish off) — 'you will not be allowed to settle it that way'.

How to attach

After a noun (ミスでは・冗談では), or after quoted words like 「『知らなかった』」
It often appears as 「〜では済まされない問題だ」.

Versus what you know

The previous 「〜だけではすまない」looks ahead: 'the consequences won't stop there, they'll go further'; 「では済まされない」is a hard judgement on someone's excuse, 'that won't do'.

Watch out

It does not attach straight to a verb in the dictionary form — with a verb you say 「Vて済むことではない」(謝って済むことではない = it isn't something an apology can settle).
Only about mistakes and responsibility.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

顧客の個人情報が漏れた以上、「知らなかった」では済まされない。

こきゃくのこじんじょうほうがもれたいじょう、「しらなかった」ではすまされない。

Now that customers' personal data has leaked, "I didn't know" won't be accepted.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) First the serious thing: 個人情報が漏れた以上 = now that the data has leaked → 「知らなかった」 = 'I didn't know' (an excuse, in quotes) → 「では済まされない」 = you can't get off by saying that (harsh criticism).

薬の量を間違えるのは、単なるミスでは済まされない問題だ。

くすりのりょうをまちがえるのは、たんなるミスではすまされないもんだいだ。

Getting a medicine dose wrong is a problem that can't be brushed off as a simple mistake.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 薬の量を間違える = to get a medicine dose wrong (serious in care work) → 単なるミス = just a simple mistake (N) → 「では済まされない」 = can't be brushed off as that → 問題だ = it's a serious problem.

人を深く傷つける言葉は、冗談では済まされない。

ひとをふかくきずつけることばは、じょうだんではすまされない。

Words that deeply hurt someone can't be excused as a joke.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 傷つける言葉 = hurtful words → 冗談 = a joke (the excuse, N) → 「では済まされない」 = you can't get off by saying 'it was a joke'.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「プロなら、『忘れていました』＿＿済まされない。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: Which particle follows the excuse?