modality N2 uncommon casualwritten
〜よりしかたがない — have no choice but to ~
〜よりしかたがない
Meaning
- there is no choice but to ~ / can't be helped but to ~ — every alternative is closed off, so the stated action is the only way; uses しかた ('way / means')
Key sentence
バスが来ないなら、タクシーを使うよりしかたがない。
If the bus won't come, there's no choice but to take a taxi.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | V(る) + よりしかたがない | 我慢するよりしかたがない / 売るよりしかたがない |
Variants
〜よりしかたない — が dropped; casual 〜より仕方がない — kanji spelling of しかた
Examples
店が閉まっていたので、出直すよりしかたがなかった。
The shop was closed, so there was nothing to do but come back another time.
壊れてしまった以上、新しいのを買うよりしかたがない。
Now that it's broken, there's no choice but to buy a new one.
Easily confused with
Notes
- しかたがない on its own means 'it can't be helped' (resignation about a situation); adding 〜より makes it 'no choice but to DO the stated action.'
See 〜よりしかたがない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜よりしかたがない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.