Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 9: 17/20

べくもないNo (doubt or hope), There is no way, It is impossible, Not a hope in hell

Structure

Verb + べくもない

Exceptions:
[する]Verb + す(1) + べくもない

(1) する

Details

  • Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    可く

About べくもない

As mentioned in the several other grammar structures that include べく, this structure is the conjunctive form of the classical auxiliary verb べし ‘shall’. It will be attached to the dictionary form of verbs in order to convey the purpose, necessity, or likelihood of an action. When combined with the adverbial particle も, and the い-Adjective ない, it is often translated as ‘it is impossible to (A)’, or ‘there is no way to (A)’.

べくもない is a pattern that usually appears with verbs highlighting the thinking or emotions of the speaker, and how that action is impossible or inconceivable for them.

Caution

In the case of する, べく may be connected directly to する, or to the stem, す.

Vocab Coverage

All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.

Examples

--:--

  • 小説(しょうせつ):「戦力差(せんりょくさ)は歴然(れきぜん)としているゆえ、まともな勝負(しょうぶ)は望(のぞ)むべくもない。」

    Novel: 'Since the difference in strength is clear, there is no hope of a decent match.'

  • いくら頑張(がんば)ったところで、絵(え)は写真(しゃしん)にはおよぶべくもないのである。

    No matter how much one tries, a drawing is no match for a photograph.

  • 地球(ちきゅう)温暖化(おんだんか)は人間(にんげん)活動(かつどう)と直接(ちょくせつ)関係(かんけい)があるということは疑(うたが)うべくもない。

    There is no doubt that global warming is directly linked to human influence.

  • 小説(しょうせつ):「今回(こんかい)、彼(かれ)は危害(きがい)を免(まぬか)れたにせよ、そのように運転(うんてん)を続(つづ)けていては将来(しょうらい)は彼(かれ)に何事(なにごと)が起(おこ)りかねぬかは、知(し)るべくもない。」

    Novel: 'Even though he escaped injury this time, there is no way to know what might happen to him in the future if he continues driving like that.'

  • 小説(しょうせつ):「この真(ま)正直(しょうじき)な少年(しょうねん)に、嘘(うそ)をつくなど望(のぞ)むべくもない。」

    Novel: 'There's not a hope in hell that this honest boy would lie.'

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar

          Page 34

        • Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou

          Page 59

        • Try N1

          Page 167

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      べくもない – Grammar Discussion

        There's currently no discussion for べくもない
        Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!