there is no way to, cannot possibly

Intermediate

20-25 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Expresses impossibility or lack of means.

[Verb stem] + ようがない / ようもない

彼の住所が分からないので、連絡のしようがない。

Kare no juusho ga wakaranai node, renraku no shiyou ga nai.

I don't know his address, so there's no way to contact him.

証拠がないので、調べようもない。

Shouko ga nai node, shirabe you mo nai.

There's no evidence, so there's no way to investigate.

Emphasizes lack of means or method.

～ずにはいられない

cannot help but, cannot stop oneself from

～に違いない

must be ~, no doubt that ~, undoubtedly

～に関して/関する

regarding ~, concerning ~, about ~

～について/つい

about ~, concerning ~

～に伴って/伴い/伴う

along with ~, as ~ (changes)

Use when method is impossible.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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