modality N3 common casualpolitewritten
仕方がない — it can't be helped / there's no use
仕方がない ・ しかたがない
Meaning
- it can't be helped / there's nothing to be done / no use ~ing — resignation to an unchangeable situation
Key sentence
もう終わったことだから、悔やんでも仕方がない。
It's already over, so there's no use regretting it.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | 仕方がない (= nothing can be done) | 残念だが、仕方がない。 |
| After 〜ても (no use ~ing) | V-ても + 仕方がない | 今さら急いでも仕方がない |
When: A very common expression of acceptance or resignation. The casual spoken form is しょうがない; 漢字 sometimes written 仕様がない.
Examples
雨なら、試合が中止になっても仕方がない。
If it rains, it can't be helped if the match gets cancelled.
渋滞なんだから、遅れても仕方がないよ。
It's a traffic jam, so being late is unavoidable.
Easily confused with
〜しかない しかない points to the one remaining option you must take ('have no choice but to ~': 歩くしかない). 仕方がない expresses resignation that nothing can change the situation — acceptance, not a course of action. 〜てしかたがない Despite sharing 仕方がない, the meanings differ: 〜てしかたがない means 'can't help feeling ~' (an overwhelming emotion: 眠くてしかたがない), while standalone 仕方がない means 'it can't be helped' (resignation).
See 仕方がない in real sentences
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