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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜よりほかない

    〜よりほかない

    〜よりほかない

    This means you have only one choice. You must do something. There is no other way.

    N2KMT7FormalStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedNo Choice But To DoGrammar

    Verb [dictionary form] + よりほかないPrimary
    Verb [dictionary form] + よりほかはない

    This means you have only one choice. You must do something. There is no other way.

    専せん門もん家かの助たすけが得えられない以い上じょう、自じ分ぶんたちで解かい決けつするよりほかない。

    Since we can't get help from experts, we have no choice but to solve it ourselves.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityWork & CareerBusiness & Finance
    終しゅう電でんを逃のがしてしまい、タクシーで帰かえるよりほかなかった。

    I missed the last train, so I had no choice but to go home by taxi.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityTravel & TransportationDaily Life
    これ以い上じょう待まっても無む駄だなので、今こん回かいは諦あきらめて参さん加かしないよりほかないだろう。

    Since it's useless to wait any longer, we probably have no choice but to give up and not participate this time.

    FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalWork & CareerEmotions & Psychology
    大おお雪ゆきで交こう通つう機き関かんが全すべて止とまったため、歩あるいて帰かえるよりほかないと覚かく悟ごを決きめた。

    Because all public transport had stopped due to the heavy snow, I resolved myself that there was no other choice but to walk home.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWeather & GeographyTravel & Transportation
    証しょう拠こがこれだけしかないのなら、彼かれの無む罪ざいを信しんじるよりほかはない。

    If this is the only evidence there is, then we have no choice but to believe in his innocence.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityPolitics & LawEmotions & Psychology

    Adding 'は' makes it stronger. It says, 'Truly, there is no other way.' It's like putting a big exclamation mark on the idea of 'no choice.'

    This is like saying 'there is no other way'. It is more formal than 〜しかない. It is almost the same as 〜ほかない. 〜ざるを得ない means you are forced to do something. But 〜よりほかない just means there are no other choices.

    Don't use this when you are talking with friends. It sounds too formal. You must use a verb before it.

    Use this when you want to say there is only one choice left. You looked at all other ways. But you found they would not work. This is the only thing you can do.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜ざるを得ない

    This means you must do something. You have no other choice. You are forced to do it.

    More formal alternatives(1)

    〜ほかない

    This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.

    辞書形

    This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

    〜ほかない

    This means you have no other choice. You must do something because there is no other way.

    AはBより〜

    This grammar shows that A has more of a quality than B. It means 'A is more ~ than B'.

    〜しか〜ない

    This means 'only' or 'nothing but'. You always use it with a negative verb. It shows that something is small or not enough.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    more_formal_than

    • 〜ほかない

    contrasts_with

    • 〜ざるを得ない

    prerequisite

    • 辞書形
    • AはBより〜
    • 〜しか〜ない

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