No choice, no way, no need: ざるを得ない, しかない, わけにはいかない
Patterns for being forced, being unable not to, and being unable to because of circumstances or duty: しかない, ざるを得ない, ないわけにはいかない, ずにはいられない. Common in novels and in serious speech.
About 5 minutes to read
These patterns express a limit to your choices. They appear when characters feel cornered, or when a writer wants to sound resigned or formal.
しかない: there is nothing but
Dictionary form + しかない = "there's nothing to do but...". It is しか + negative ない.
こうthis wayなったらif it turns outやるdoしかないnothing but
If it's come to this, all I can do is do it.
行くgoしかないno choice
I have no choice but to go.
ほかない / よりほかない: no alternative
A more formal version:
待つwaitほかないthere is no other way
There is nothing else to do but wait.
ざるを得ない: cannot help but
Negative stem (ない removed) + ざるを得ない = "can't help but; have no choice but". It is formal and literary. する becomes せざるを得ない.
彼heの意見opinionには賛成agreeせざるを得ないcan't help but
I can't help but agree with his opinion.
雨rainで中止cancellationせざるを得なかったhad no choice
We had no choice but to cancel due to the rain.
ないわけにはいかない: can't not do
Negative form + わけにはいかない = "it's not possible not to", so "must".
明日tomorrowは大事なimportant会議meetingがあるので行かgoないわけにはいかないcan't not
There's an important meeting tomorrow, so I can't not go.
わけにはいかない: can't, for moral reasons
Dictionary form + わけにはいかない = "can't (because it wouldn't be right / possible)".
友達friendを裏切るbetrayわけにはいかないcan't
I can't betray my friend.
ここhereで止まるstopわけにはいかないcan't
I can't stop here.
ずにはいられない / ないではいられない: can't help doing
Negative stem + ずにはいられない = "can't help doing":
その話storyを聞くhearと笑わlaughずにはいられないcan't help
I can't help laughing when I hear that story.
彼女sheのことmatterを考えthinkずにはいられないcan't help
I can't help thinking about her.
ようがない: no way to
Polite stem + ようがない = "no way of doing":
連絡contactのしようがないno way to
There's no way to contact them.
説明explanationしようがないcan't
There's no way to explain it.
仕方がない: it can't be helped
仕方がない / しょうがない = "it can't be helped, there's no help for it". Very common:
雨rainだから仕方がないcan't be helped
It's raining, so it can't be helped.
しょうがないit can't be helpedね
Oh well.
Also: 〜て仕方がない ("so much I can't bear it") — 眠くて仕方がない (so sleepy I can't stand it).
眠くsleepyて仕方がないunbearably
I'm unbearably sleepy.
ことはない: no need to
Dictionary form + ことはない = "there's no need to":
心配worryすることはないno need
There's no need to worry.
Quick map
Pattern
Feel
〜しかない
only option
〜ざるを得ない
forced (formal)
〜ないわけにはいかない
duty
〜わけにはいかない
can't (morally)
〜ずにはいられない
irresistible
〜ようがない
impossible, no means
〜仕方がない
it can't be helped
〜ことはない
no need
Longer sentences
These constructions carry a tone of duty or resignation. Read them aloud in a serious voice.
本当はreally行きたくなかったがdidn't want to go, but社長のpresident's頼みではrequest断るわけにはいかずcouldn't turn down結局in the end行かざるを得なかったhad no choice but to go現地ではthere仕方なくreluctantly笑顔でwith a smile挨拶するしかなかったがhad nothing to do but greet, but内心ではinside帰りたくてwanting to go homeたまらなかったcouldn't stand it
I really hadn't wanted to go, but I couldn't refuse the president's request, so in the end I had no choice but to go. When I got there I could do nothing but greet people with a reluctant smile, though inside I was dying to go home.
Duty and feeling
彼のhis事情はcircumstances痛いほどpainfully分かるのでI understand, so責めるわけにはblameいかないしcan't, andかといってthat said黙ってsilently見ているしかないcan only watchのも(nominalizer)つらいpainful
結局in the end、私にIできることはwhat I can do彼のhis話をstory聞かずにはwithout listeningいられないcan't helpというthatことだけだったwas only
I understand his circumstances painfully well, so I can't blame him, but it hurts to simply stand by and watch.
In the end, all I could do was to listen to what he had to say; I couldn't help it.
Key points
しかない: nothing but. ざるを得ない: formal "can't help but".
ないわけにはいかない: must (cannot avoid). わけにはいかない: can't (morally).
ずにはいられない: can't help doing. ようがない: no way.
仕方がない: it can't be helped. ことはない: no need to.
Drill these patterns
Short example sentences for the points in this lesson: