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JLPT N2 Casual

〜deshou ga nai

Expresses an intense emotional or physical state; 'extremely', 'can’t help but'.

Casual, spoken "unbearably/can't help but" - the everyday way to express an intense feeling.

Formation

Explanation

The pattern ～(て)しょうがない (or 〜でしょうがない) indicates a condition or feeling so intense that one is almost 'overcome' by it. It’s often used with emotions (e.g. 退屈で(しょうがない), 嬉しくてしょうがない, 寒くてしょうがない).

Example sentences

  • I’m extremely bored today.

    Kyō wa hima de shō ga nai.

  • I’m so anxious because the exam is coming up.

    Shiken ga chikai kara fuan deshō ga nai.

  • My head hurts so much I can’t stand it—I want to leave early.

    Atama ga itakute shō ga nai kara, sōtai shitai.

  • I can’t help but keep thinking about the new game.

    Atarashii gēmu ga ki ni natte shō ga nai.

Extremity (Extremely / Utterly)