ほどではない
(Hodo de wa nai)
not to the extent of / not as much as.
Connection rules
- +V plain / i-adj + ほどではない; na-adj + な + ほどではない; noun + の + ほどではない.
- +Moderating negation — 'not quite as much as X'.
- +Common to hedge: 痛いけど、救急車を呼ぶほどではない.
Examples
1.
痛いけど、病院に行くほどではない。

Itai kedo, byouin ni iku hodo de wa nai.
It hurts, but not to the extent of going to the hospital.
「not to the extent of / not as much as」
2.
忙しいが、断るほどではない。

Isogashii ga, kotowaru hodo de wa nai.
I'm busy, but not so much that I need to decline.
「not to the extent of / not as much as」
Practice
The injury is serious, but not so much as to require surgery.
ひどい怪我だが、___。
Romaji also accepted