～っこない

When to use

Casual, spoken "no way/impossible" - blunt, conversational.

Explanation

The ～っこない grammar point is used to express that something is impossible or extremely unlikely. It’s formed by attaching ～っこない to the negative stem of a verb. It can be translated as 'no way', 'no chance', or 'impossible.'

• こんなに雪ゆきが降ふっているんだから、学校がっこうに間まに合あいっこない。

  With snow falling this heavily, there's no way we'll make it to school on time.

  Konna ni yuki ga futteirun dakara, gakkō ni maniai kkonai.

• 彼かれは泳げないので、プールの向むこう側がわに泳およいで行いきっこない。

  Since he can’t swim, there’s no way he’ll make it to the other side of the pool.

  Kare wa oyogenai node, pūru no mukōgawa ni oyoide ikkonai.

• 彼女かのじょはとても怖こわがりなので、一人ひとりで夜よるの公園こうえんに行いきっこない。

  She’s so timid, there’s no chance she’d go to the park alone at night.

  Kanojo wa totemo kowagari na node, hitori de yoru no kōen ni ikkonai.

• この短みじかい時間じかんで、その本ほんを全部ぜんぶ読よむことはできっこない。

  It's impossible to read the entire book in such a short time.

  Kono mijikai jikan de, sono hon o zenbu yomu koto wa dekikkonai.

Unlikely / Impossible

• ～そうにない〜sou ni naiN2Express the unlikelihood of something happening; 'not…
• ～ようがない〜you ga naiN2Expresses that there is no way (method) to do something…
• ～ものか〜mono kaN2Definitely not; no way; no chance.
• ～わけがない〜wake ga naiN3Expresses that something is impossible or unreasonable…
• ～かねる〜kaneruN2Express inability or impossibility of doing an action…
• Verbる べくもないVerb-ru beku mo naiN1Means 'it's impossible to...' or 'there's no way to...'.
• Verb ようにも〜you ni moN1Used to express 'even though one wants to do something…
• Verb やしない~ yashinaiN1Expresses a strong denial or refusal: 'I would never...'…

Compare when to use each