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〜ざるを得ない

have no choice but to, can't help but

Verb ない-form minus ない + ざるを得ない (する → せざる)

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ざるを得ない means you're forced to do something, usually against your wishes: 雨なので、試合を中止せざるを得ない, "it's raining, so we have no choice but to cancel the match".

ざる is an old negative, so it's literally "can't get not doing". Build it from the ない-form: 従わない → 従わざる, 認めない → 認めざる. The exception is する, which becomes せざる: 中止せざるを得ない.

It's more formal and more reluctant than しかない. The situation leaves no choice: an order, the weather, evidence, circumstances.

With 認める and 言う, it's a common way to concede a point: 認めざるを得ない, "I have to admit it".

Examples

  • 雨あめなので、試合しあいを中止ちゅうしせざるを得えない。

    It's raining, so we have no choice but to cancel the match.

  • 上司じょうしの命令めいれいなので、従したがわざるを得えない。

    It's my boss's order, so I have no choice but to obey.

  • 体調たいちょうが悪わるいので、今日きょうは休やすまざるを得えない。

    I'm not well, so I have no choice but to take today off.

  • 証拠しょうこがあるから、認みとめざるを得えない。

    There's evidence, so I have to admit it.

  • 終電しゅうでんがないので、タクシーで帰かえらざるを得えなかった。

    The last train had gone, so I had no choice but to take a taxi home.

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