Structure
Verb + より + （ほか(1)）+ 仕方がない(2)
(1) ほかに(2) 仕方ない
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About よりしかたがない
Often seen as a set phrase, よりしかたがない consists of より, the noun 仕方 '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 and ない.
Keeping almost exactly the same style of translation is a similar pattern, より他にない. The only actual difference is that this structure expresses that there is no 'other' alternative, rather than being no 'method'. The noun 他 'other' and に will simply replace 仕方 'method' and が.
As with 仕方が, the に will often be dropped in 他に.
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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Examples
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税金は、高くとも納めるより仕方がない。
We have no choice but to pay taxes, even if they are high.
税金は、納めるより仕方のないものだ。
It is a fact that there is no choice but to pay taxes.
ミシンが故障しているから、手で縫うより仕方がない。
Since the sewing machine is broken, there is no choice but to sew (it) by hand.
見本がないから、頭の中でイメージして作るより仕方がない。
Since there is no example, there is no choice but to make an image in my head.
マラソン大会に出たいなら、地道にトレーニングを積むより仕方がない。
If you want to enter a marathon, there is no choice but to steadily pile on the training.
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[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
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よりしかたがない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
Pushindawood
there is no choice but
can’t be helped
inevitableStructure
- Verb + より + (ほか(に)) + 仕方(が)ない
Structure LegendStructure
Verb + より + (ほか(に)) + 仕方(が)ない
[Aより仕方がない is used when A is the only possible course of action・よりほかに + しかたがない is very formal, and a bit old fashioned, used mostly in writing]
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Mannelito
I’m having a really hard time separating より仕方がない and よりほかない, I can’t figure out a consistent pattern to tell these apart/which one to use and when. Somebody help!?
IcyIceBear
I know these parts of the forum don’t see much light but I thought I’d ask anyway. The sentence prompt asked for formal -old fashioned . But no where in the grammar description does it say old fashion, and in the grammar info it says it’s standard register
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