Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 3/21

ざるを得(え)ない

Can't help doing, Have no choice but

する→せざるを得ない, くる→こざるを得ない

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ざるを得ない

Details

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About ざるを得ない

ざる is the 連体形(れんたいけい) (attributive form) of the old-fashioned auxiliary verb ざり. ざり carries the same meaning as the modern ない, in negating what comes before it.
When joined with a combination of the る-Verb 得(え)る 'to gain', or 'to acquire', and the auxiliary verb ない, it becomes a double-negative structure meaning that one 'cannot help doing (A)', or 'there is no choice but to (A)'. More literally, it means that one 'can't not (A)'.
For the most part, this structure will conjugate with other verbs in exactly the same way as ない.
  • 山(やま)の頂上(ちょうじょう)まで登(のぼ)りたかったが、天候(てんこう)が悪(わる)くなって来(き)たので諦(あきら)めざるを得(え)ない。
    I wanted to hike to the peak of the mountain, but the weather was getting worse so we had no choice but to give up.
  • 先輩(せんぱい)に指示(しじ)されたので従(したが)わざるを得(え)ない。
    Because my senpai told me to do it, I had no choice but to obey.
Caution - As ざり is an old-fashioned structure, it conjugates a little bit differently with する than the regular ない.
  • フランスの大学(だいがく)へ行(い)くため、フランス語(ご)を勉強(べんきょう)しざるを得(え)ない。
    In order to go to a college in France, I have no choice but to study French. (Unnatural Japanese)
  • フランスの大学(だいがく)へ行(い)くため、フランス語(ご)を勉強(べんきょう)せざるを得(え)ない。
    In order to go to a college in France, I have no choice but to study French. (Natural Japanese)
Notice here that instead of しない changing to しざる, せざる will be used instead.

Examples

  • 田中(たなか)さんはとても忙(いそが)しかったのでゴルフの誘(さそ)いを断(ことわ)らざるを得(え)なかった。

    Mr. Tanaka was so busy he had no choice but to turn down an invitation to play golf.

  • 今(いま)まで使(つか)った顕微鏡(けんびきょう)が壊(こわ)れたから、新(あたら)しいのを買(か)わざるを得(え)ない。

    The microscope I have been using until now broke, so I have no choice but to buy a new one.

  • 工場(こうじょう)の排気(はいき)を低(ひく)くせざるを得(え)ない。

    We have no choice but to lower exhaust in the factory.

  • 話(はな)し合(あ)いが終(お)わらない。会議(かいぎ)室(しつ)を借(か)りる時間(じかん)を延長(えんちょう)せざるを得(え)ない。

    The discussion is not coming to an end. We have no choice but to extend the amount of time allotted to use this meeting room.

  • 地元(じもと)のチームではないが、甥(おい)っ子(こ)が入団(にゅうだん)したから応援(おうえん)せざるを得(え)ない。

    The team isn't from my home town, but my nephew joined the team so I can't help but cheer for them.

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ざるを得ない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • Greenlama

    Greenlama

    My answer to 思掛かけない出会であいに、感動_______________
    is せざるをえない。 But it is marked as incorrect. Why? The example of the same sentence seems to add せ to 感動 but the exercise does not. I have logged out and logged back in (and even entered my answer w/out せ）but Bunpro will not mark my answer as correct.
    Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions from anyone.

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    You’re using the right verb but the wrong tense.
    せざるをえない
    せざるをえなかった

  • Greenlama

    Greenlama

    Oh, duh!! Can’t believe I overlooked that. Thanks so much for replying.

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