Money can't buy happiness means that wealth alone doesn't make people happy. People say it when riches haven't made someone content, or when someone chooses work they love over a bigger salary. The English proverb is about buying, so a word-for-word version like happiness is not in money won't be recognised as a saying.
When would you say money can't buy happiness?
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money can't buy (you) happiness; money can't buy + noun (love, time, real friends); they say money can't buy happiness, but…
- He earns a fortune but looks miserable all the time; money really can't buy happiness.
- They say money can't buy happiness, but a bigger flat would make my life easier.
- Money can't buy you real friends, and he learned that the hard way.
What changed
First versionHappiness is not in money, so I chose a job I really enjoy.
RevisionMoney can't buy happiness, so I chose a job I really enjoy.
Happiness is not in money is how the saying might come out if you translate it word for word from another language. It's grammatically possible, but it doesn't sound like a proverb, and listeners have to guess what you mean. The fixed English version is money can't buy happiness.
Money isn't everything is simpler and more practical, and it suits an argument about a job or a flat: The salary is lower, but money isn't everything. Money can't buy happiness sounds like wisdom about life in general.
Your turn
As the saying goes, money can't buy ___, so choose work you actually like.
Show the answer
happiness — Happiness here is general, not a particular kind, so it takes no article: buy happiness. The happiness would sound like a specific happiness already mentioned and would break the proverb.
Write about a choice between money and something important to you. Say what you chose and why.
I turned down a better-paid job in another city to stay near my family, because money can't buy happiness.
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