Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 9/23

より他(ほか)ないTo have no choice but, No other way than, Have to

Structure

Verb + より + ほか + （は(1)）+ ない

(1) に、には

Details

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About よりほかない

Used in a similar way to しかない, より他(ほか)ない is a structure that emphasizes that only (A) is possible, when attached to the end of verbs. This grammar pattern is a combination of the case marking particleより 'than', or 'from', the noun 他(ほか) 'other', and the い-Adjective, ない. From this it can be translated directly as 'there is nothing other than (A)'. However, the emphasis is usually on the impossibility of doing anything other than (A), rather than the existence of nothing else.

Common interpretations include 'to have no choice but to (A)', 'there is no other way than (A)', or simply 'have to (A)'.

Occasionally, the particles に, は, or a combination of both as には may come between 他(ほか) and ない. While this does not change the meaning, it does further emphasize the point that there is no choice but (A).

Examples

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    このコースレイアウトだと、刻(きざ)むよりほかない。

    If it is this course layout, there is no choice but to lay up the ball.

    給与(きゅうよ)が悪(わる)すぎる。仕事(しごと)を代(か)えるよりほかない。

    The salary is too poor. I have no choice but to change jobs.

    教養(きょうよう)がなさすぎる。勉強(べんきょう)するよりほかありません。

    They lack education. There is no choice but to study.

    車(くるま)を出(だ)せなかったので、自転車(じてんしゃ)で行(い)くよりほかはなかった。

    Because I couldn't get my car out, I had no choice but to ride my bike.

    材料(ざいりょう)が入手(にゅうしゅ)できない。休業(きゅうぎょう)するよりほかない。

    I can't obtain the material. There is no choice but to suspend business.

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よりほかない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • electrosuccess

    electrosuccess

    I have a question about example sentence:

    泥棒の攻撃から守るためだったため、相手を撃つよりほかなかった

    I don’t understand why ため is used twice here. Does it have any special meaning?

  • mokacchi

    mokacchi

    Don’t quote me on this, but it feels to me that the first ため denotes that it was “for the sake of” protecting yourself from the thieve’s attacks,
    while the second ため is more like “due to” that happening, I had no choice to hit back.

    Take it apart like this:
    泥棒の攻撃から守るためだった
    It was for the sake of protecting myself from the thieves attacks.

    ため
    “due to” me having the reasoning above [this connects the sentences]

    相手を撃つよりほかなかった
    I had no choice but to shoot.

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