Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 10/24

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

  • Formal

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).

Synonyms

Related

Vocab Coverage

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Examples

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  • ゴルフの解説者(かいせつしゃ)：「このコースレイアウトだと、刻(きざ)むよりほかないですね。」

    Golf commentator: '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 (6 in total)

      • bzh

        bzh

        It’s a golf thing, apparently.

      • CrisH

        CrisH

        I came to ask this, after wondering what 刻む meant…although I got results relating to basketball, so I am still none the wiser about the English (maybe American) or the Japanese!

      • burns_j

        burns_j

        I think it’s answered in that link probably, but just in case anyone ever comes here wondering:

        A lay-up is when you hit a golf ball not directly at the hole, but to another place where you can avoid danger (water, sand, trees, pack of wild dogs, etc) or to a place where your next shot might be easier. Maybe the hole is further than you can hit and there’s a lake (or those dogs) between you and it. You’d need to hit it around the lake. That’s a lay up.

        The Japanese term for this is 刻む, but they also sometimes just use レイアップする.

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