immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜っこない

no way (it'll happen), can't possibly

Verb ます-stem + っこない

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

っこない is a casual, emphatic "no way": そんなの、できっこないよ, "there's no way I can do that". It attaches to the ます-stem, often of a potential verb: できっこない, 覚えられっこない, わかりっこない.

It's used in conversation to dismiss a possibility completely, often with a hint of frustration or defeatism.

The meaning is the same as わけがない and はずがない, but っこない is much more casual and a bit childish. Don't use it in formal speech or writing.

It usually goes with things that simply can't happen given the circumstances: winning the lottery, memorising something in a day, making it on time.

Register: Casual.

Examples

  • そんなの、できっこないよ。

    There's no way I can do that.

  • 一日いちにちで覚おぼえられっこない。

    There's no way I can memorise it in a day.

  • 宝たからくじなんて、当あたりっこない。

    There's no way you'll win the lottery.

  • 彼かれに言いっても、わかりっこない。

    Even if you tell him, there's no way he'll understand.

  • 今いまから走はしっても、間まに合あいっこない。

    Even if we run now, there's no way we'll make it.

Related