Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 8: 13/18

筈(はず)がないHardly possible, Cannot be, Highly unlikely, Improbable

Structure

Verb + はず + が + ない
［い］Adjective + はず + が + ない
［な］Adjective + な + はず + が + ない
Noun + の + はず + が + ない

Details

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About はずがない

Like はず, coming from the kanji 筈(はず), which suggests that something is 'bound' to be true, はずがない suggests that something is 'not bound' to be true. This expression is usually translated as 'hardly possible', 'improbable', or 'unlikely', but in reality, it is a bit weaker than these, and translates more literally to '(A) is not the only possibility'.

As はずがない (a combination of 筈(はず), the case-marking particle が, and the い-Adjective ない) is a phrase that starts with a noun, it may be used after any word that could usually connect with a noun.

Caution

There is a big difference in nuance between ないはずだ 'bound not to', and はずがない 'not bound to'. ないはず strongly negates the (A) statement, and expresses the speaker's opinion that it is almost definitely not true. はずがない on the other hand, simply suggests that (A) being almost 100% true is not the case.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    これだけの筈(はず)がない。

    It is highly unlikely that it is just this.

    それはあなたのカバンの筈(はず)がない。

    It is highly unlikely that that is your bag.

    夏(なつ)に雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る筈(はず)がない。

    It is hardly possible for it to snow in the summer.

    あのビルは古(ふる)すぎなので、病院(びょういん)の筈(はず)がない。

    Because that building is so old, it is hardly possible that it is a hospital.

    こんな量(りょう)を一気(いっき)に食(た)べられる筈(はず)がないよ。

    It is hardly possible to eat this amount of food at once.

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