～ようがない

When to use

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

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.

• 彼かの連絡先れんらくさきがわからないので、助たすけようがない。

  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.

• ここまで壊こわれてしまったら、もう直なおしようがない。

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

  Koko made kowarete shimattara, mou naoshiyou ga nai.

• 証拠しょうこが全まったくないから、彼かれが犯人はんにんだと証明しょうめいしようがない。

  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.

• 突然とつぜん英語えいごで話はなしかけられて、何なんと答こたえればいいか分わからず答こたえようがなかった。

  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

• ～そうにない〜sou ni naiN2Express the unlikelihood of something happening; 'not…
• ～っこない〜kkonaiN2Expresses the impossibility or very low probability of…
• ～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