This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.
Verb [dictionary form] + ほかないPrimary
This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.
もう修理は無理なので、新しいのを買うほかない。
Since it's impossible to repair, there's no choice but to buy a new one.
その決定には反対だったが、従うほかなかった。
I was against that decision, but I had no choice but to follow it.
電車が止まってしまったので、歩いて帰るほかない。
The train has stopped, so there's no choice but to walk home.
この状況では、ただ事態の推移を見守るほかないと判断しました。
In this situation, I concluded that we have no other choice but to just watch how things develop.
待つほかないわけではないが、それが最善の策だろう。
It's not that we have no choice but to wait, but it is probably the best strategy.
Imagine you are stuck in a maze. You try many paths. All are blocked. This grammar is like saying, "Well, this is the only way left." It shows you have thought about it. You accept the one choice you have.
This is like 〜しかない, 〜よりほかない, and 〜ざるを得ない. 〜しかない is more common when speaking. It can show you are complaining. 〜よりほかない is very similar. You can often use them in the same way. It can feel a bit stronger. 〜ざるを得ない is more formal. It means you do something even if you do not want to.
Don't use this when the verb is already past tense or negative. For example, you cannot say "waited ho kanai" or "not wait ho kanai".
Contrasts with(1)
More formal alternatives(1)
Less formal alternatives(1)
Track your mastery
Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.