Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 14/21

様(よう)がない

There's no way to, It's impossible to

This is not Verb[volitional]

Structure

Verb［ます］+ よう + が(1) + ない.
［する］Verb + （の）+ しよう + が(1) + ない

(1) も

Details

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About ようがない・ようもない

様(よう)がない or 様(よう)もない is an expression used to highlight that there is no 'method' or 'manner' in which to do (A). It can be interpreted as 'there is no way to (A)', or 'it's impossible to (A)'.
This phrase will appear attached to the conjunctive form of verbs.
  • 車(くるま)も自転車(じてんしゃ)も壊(こわ)れているので買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)きようがない。
    Because my car and bicycle are broken, there is no way for me to go shopping.
  • パソコンが車(くるま)にひかれて粉々(こなごな)になったため直(なお)しようがない。
    It's impossible to fix my computer because it was run over by a car and smashed to pieces.
  • 電話(でんわ)番号(ばんごう)もメールアドレスも分(わ)からないので、連絡(れんらく)のしようがありません。
    I have no way to contact them because I don't know their phone number nor their email address.
様(よう)がない often focuses on that the action of (A) is not possible, despite that the speaker may actually want to do it.
Caution - Because 様(よう) will often appear in hiragana, it is important not to get it mixed up with よう, the auxiliary verb used to create the volitional form of verbs such as する.

Examples

  • 何(なん)とも言(い)いようがない味(あじ)だ。

    There is no way to put this taste/flavor into words.

  • 弁解(べんかい)のしようがない。

    It is impossible to explain.

  • これはどうにもしようがない。

    There is no way to do this.

  • 彼(かれ)は速(はや)すぎて追(お)い越(こ)しようがない。

    He is too fast, there is no way to overtake him.

  • そんな無理(むり)な要求(ようきゅう)をされても、応(おう)じようがない。

    Even if such an impossible demand is made, it is impossible to comply.

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ようがない・ようもない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • ggw1776

    ggw1776

    About 6 months ago

    How does this differ from っこない？

  • ggw1776

    ggw1776

    About 6 months ago

    bump?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    About 6 months ago

    Hey @ggw1776 !

    The main difference is that ようがない has the nuance of ‘there is no ‘method’ or ‘manner’ to do (A)’, and っこない has the nuance of ‘it will be impossible to do (A)’. ようがない focuses on the method, while っこない simply states that something is impossible.

    We hope that helps!

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