Noun / Verb (plain form) + に過ぎない

[Nothing more than / Merely / Only]

Connection: Noun + に過ぎない / Verb (plain form) + に過ぎない

Usage: Used to downplay or minimize the significance of something, emphasizing that it is nothing more than what is stated. Can be used humbly about oneself or critically about something/someone.

Examples:

私の意見は個人的な考えに過ぎない。(My opinion is nothing more than a personal thought.)

これは単なる偶然に過ぎない。(This is merely a coincidence.)

彼は新入社員に過ぎないのに、偉そうにしている。(He's nothing more than a new employee, yet he acts important.)