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〜ても仕方がない

there's no point; it can't be helped if

Verb て-form + も仕方がない / もしょうがない

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ても仕方がない has two related meanings.

There's no point: 今さら後悔しても仕方がない, "there's no use regretting it now". The action wouldn't change anything.

It's understandable, it can't be helped: 初めてなんだから、失敗しても仕方がない, "it's your first time, so it's understandable if you fail".

てもしょうがない is the casual version. Watch the も: without it, て仕方がない (N3) means "terribly, unbearably", a completely different pattern.

Compare たところで (N2), "even if you did (it'd be pointless)", which is more formal and literary. In grammar questions, the particle も before 仕方がない is the whole difference, so read it carefully.

Examples

  • 今いまさら後悔こうかいしても仕方しかたがない。

    There's no use regretting it now.

  • 一人ひとりで悩なやんでいても仕方しかたがない。

    There's no point worrying about it alone.

  • 失敗しっぱいしても仕方しかたがないよ。初はじめてなんだから。

    It's understandable if you fail. It's your first time.

  • 今いまから急いそいでも仕方しかたがない。

    There's no point hurrying now.

  • 怒おこられても仕方しかたがないことをした。

    I did something I deserved to be told off for.

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