Structure
Verb［stem］+ っこない
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About っこない
っこない is a combination of the suffix っこ, and the い-Adjective ない. When attached to the conjunctive form of verbs, it creates new い-Adjectives that express the impossibility of (A). (A) being whichever verb is used.
Common translations of っこない include 'there is no chance of (A)', or 'doing (A) is impossible'.
Caution
Although extremely rare, as っこ stems from the kanji 子, this grammar point may occasionally be seen in its kanji form.
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Examples
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「今持っているスキルでリングは何も滅ぼせっこありません。」
With the skills we possess right now, we can’t destroy anything with this ring.
練習をたくさんしなくては、楽器の演奏なんかできっこない。
If you do not practice a lot, there is no way you will be able to do a musical performance.
日本語で書く練習をしないと、日本語で書けるようにはなりっこない。
If you do not practice writing in Japanese, there is no way you will become able to write it.
怒ったお母さん：「ひきこもりのように、一日中家でゲームしてばかりでは、何も成し遂げっこない。」
Angry mother: 'There is no way you are going to accomplish anything if you are just sitting at home, playing games like a hikikomori.'
どんなに勉強したって「は」と「が」の違いなんて分かりっこない。
No matter how much I study, there is no way for me to understand the difference between 'は' and 'が'.
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っこない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (7 in total)
grasper
@Slysoft Did you understand the grammar point better by now? Even though most of the time, the potential verbs stem is used for the grammar point also in examples on other websites, sometimes the dictionary verb stem is used, and I cannot figure out why.
okayfrog
I’m having a hard time figuring out how the verb is supposed to be conjugated for this grammar point.
crisp-y
The page has now been updated to simply verb stem + っこない. This grammar point will almost always attach to the stem of the potential form, but there are some exceptions such as for intransitive verbs (state of being) or verbs with noun forms, which is what you’re likely seeing.
E.g. 日本語で書く練習をしないと、日本語で書けるようにはなりっこない
If you do not practice writing in Japanese, there is no way you will become able to write itなります is the dictionary form of an intransitive verb, and it already has potential meaning without changing form to potential.
Similarly, どんなに勉強したって「は」と「が」の違いなんて分かりっこない。
No matter how much I study, there is no way for me to understand the difference between ‘は’ and ‘が’.わかります is also the dictionary form of an intransitive verb, carrying a meaning of potential.
Now for noun form exceptions, there’s basically ...
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