Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 3: 15/23

より仕方(しかた)がない
there is no choice but, can't be helped, inevitable

Structure
Verb + より + (ほか(1))+ 仕方がない(2)

(1) ほかに (2) 仕方ない
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
Often seen as a set phrase, よりしかたがない consists of より, the noun 仕方(しかた) ‘way’ or ‘method’, が and ない. When preceded by a verb in its dictionary form, it just conveys that ‘there is no choice but (A)’, or that ‘(A) cannot be helped’.
Occasionally the が will be dropped, between 仕方(しかた) and ない.
  • この建物(たてもの)はボロボロでいつ倒(たお)れてもおかしくないので、倉庫(そうこ)として使(つか)いたいなら立(た)て直(なお)すより仕方(しかた)がない
    This building is in a bad condition and could fall down at any time, so if I want to use it as a warehouse, I have no choice but to rebuild it.
  • 高速道路(こうそくどうろ)が通行(つうこう)止(ど)めになっている為(ため)、下道(したみち)を使(つか)うより仕方(しかた)がない
    Since the expressway is closed, there is no choice but to take the normal road.
  • 生活(せいかつ)をするにはお金(かね)が必要(ひつよう)なので働(はたら)くより仕方(しかた)ない
    I need money in order to live, so there is no choice but to work.
Keeping almost exactly the same style of translation is a similar pattern, より他(ほか)にない. The only actual difference is that this structure expresses that there is no ‘other’ alternative, rather than being no ‘method’. The noun 他(ほか) ‘other’ and に will simply replace 仕方(しかた) ‘method’ and が.
As with 仕方(しかた)が, the に will often be dropped in 他(ほか)に.
  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)のチェーンとブレーキがぶっ壊(こわ)れたので、捨(す)てるより他(ほか)にない
    My bicycle chain and brakes are busted, soI have no choice but to throw them away.
  • 上司(じょうし)のパワハラのせいで病(や)んできたので、精神科(せいしんか)に行(い)くより他(ほか)にない
    My mental health is not doing well because of my boss’s power harassment, so I have no choice but to go to a therapist.
  • あんなひどい事(こと)を言(い)ってしまったので、謝(あやま)るより他(ほか)ない
    Because I said such a terrible thing, I have no choice but to apologize.
Both よりしかたがない and よりほかにない have a tendency to express some particular evaluation of (A) that cannot be helped or denied, or simply that ‘given the situation, (A) cannot be avoided’.
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税金(ぜいきん)は、高(たか)くとも納(おさ)めるよりしかたがない
We have no choice but to pay taxes, even if they are high.
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税金(ぜいきん)は、納(おさ)めるよりしかたない事(こと)だ。
It is a fact that there is no choice but to pay taxes.
[when しかたがない is used in a relative clause が can be changed to の]
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人生(じんせい)には好調(こうちょう)な日(ひ)もあれば、不調(ふちょう)な日(ひ)もある。したがって、不調(ふちょう)の日(ひ)は受(う)け入(い)れるより仕方(しかた)がない思(おも)う
In life, there are both good days and bad days. Therefore we have no choice but to accept the bad ones.
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[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 169