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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜ようがない

    〜ようがない

    〜ようがない

    You cannot do something. There is no way to do it. You have no method or chance.

    N2KMT5NeutralStandardVerb ConstructionMixedStrong Negation Or ImpossibilityGrammar

    Verb [stem] + ようがないPrimary

    You cannot do something. There is no way to do it. You have no method or chance.

    あまりの美うつくしさに、言こと葉ばで表あらわしようがない。

    It's so beautiful that there's no way to express it in words.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeArt & DesignNature & Environment
    事じ故こで道みちが完かん全ぜんに塞ふさがれてしまい、進すすみようがなかった。

    The road was completely blocked by the accident, and there was no way to proceed.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeTravel & TransportationDaily Life
    こんなにめちゃくちゃに壊こわれては、もう直なおしようがないから諦あきらめよう。

    Since it's broken this badly, there's no way to fix it, so let's just give up.

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceVolitionalDaily LifeTechnology
    これは個こ人じん情じょう報ほうなので、本ほん人にん以い外がいには教おしえようがないこと、ご理り解かいください。

    This is personal information, so please understand that there is no way for us to give it to anyone other than the person themselves.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalRequestBusiness & FinancePolitics & Law
    連れん絡らくしようがないわけではないが、今いまは少すこし難むずかしい状じょう況きょうだ。

    It's not that there's absolutely no way to contact them, but the situation is a bit difficult right now.

    NeutralNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFamily & RelationshipsWork & Career

    This grammar shows you cannot do something. It is because you lack a method. Or you lack a tool. It is not that you are unable to do it. It means you have no way to do it. Imagine you want to open a locked box. But you have no key. And no tools to break it. You feel stuck. This is how 〜ようがない feels. You cannot find a solution.

    This is different from 〜わけがない. That means "there is no way it is true." For example, "He would not call." This is different from 〜っこない. That also means "no way." But it is more casual and shows strong feelings.

    Don't use this when you cannot control the action. For example, you cannot say "There is no way for rain to fall." You can only use it with verbs. It does not work with nouns or adjectives. For some verbs, you can say "noun + の + しようがない" instead.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜れる / 〜られる (potential form)

    This grammar shows you can do something. It means 'can' or 'to be able to'.

    More formal alternatives(1)

    〜っこない

    This means 'no way' or 'impossible'. You use it when you strongly believe something cannot happen.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜どころではない

    This means you cannot do something. It is not the right time or place. Something else is more important right now.

    Verb stem form

    This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

    意向形 (よう / う)

    This form means 'let's do' something. You use it to suggest an action or invite someone to do it with you.

    〜が

    This word shows who or what is doing the action. It points out new or important information.

    ない形

    This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    more_formal_than

    • 〜っこない

    less_formal_than

    • 〜どころではない

    prerequisite

    • Verb stem form
    • 意向形 (よう / う)
    • 〜が
    • ない形

    contrasts_with

    • 〜れる / 〜られる (potential form)

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