JLPT N2 Neutral

〜you ga nai

Expresses that there is no way (method) to do something; it's impossible to do.

"There's no way to do X". (Near-duplicate of n1-150 - same construction, taught at both N1 and N2.)

Formation

Explanation

「~ようがない」 is used with the ます-stem of a verb to indicate that there is no means or method to carry out that action. It conveys the sense that it's impossible to do something or that there's absolutely no way to achieve it.

Example sentences

  • I don't know his contact information, so there's no way I can help him.

    Kare no renrakusaki ga wakaranai node, tasukeyou ga nai.

  • Now that it's broken this badly, there's no way to fix it.

    Koko made kowarete shimattara, mou naoshiyou ga nai.

  • There’s no evidence at all, so there’s no way to prove he’s the culprit.

    Shouko ga mattaku nai kara, kare ga hannin da to shoumeishiyou ga nai.

  • I was suddenly spoken to in English and didn’t know how to respond, so there was no way for me to reply.

    Totsuzen eigo de hanashikakerarete, nan to kotaereba ii ka wakarazu kotaeyou ga nakatta.

Unlikely / Impossible