Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 17/23

っこないThere is no chance of, There is no way of, Impossible

Structure

Verb［stem］+ っこない

Details

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About っこない

っこない is a combination of the suffix っこ, and the い-Adjective ない. When attached to the conjunctive form of verbs, it creates new い-Adjectives that express the impossibility of (A). (A) being whichever verb is used.

Common translations of っこない include 'there is no chance of (A)', or 'doing (A) is impossible'.

Caution

Although extremely rare, as っこ stems from the kanji 子(こ), this grammar point may occasionally be seen in its kanji form.

Examples

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    「今(いま)持(も)っているスキルでリングは何(なに)も滅(ほろ)ぼせっこありません。」

    With the skills we possess right now, we can’t destroy anything with this ring.

    練習(れんしゅう)をたくさんしなくては、楽器(がっき)の演奏(えんそう)なんかできっこない。

    If you do not practice a lot, there is no way you will be able to do a musical performance.

    日本語(にほんご)で書(か)く練習(れんしゅう)をしないと、日本語(にほんご)で書(か)けるようにはなりっこない。

    If you do not practice writing in Japanese, there is no way you will become able to write it.

    怒(おこ)ったお母(かあ)さん：「ひきこもりのように、一日(いちにち)中(じゅう)家(いえ)でゲームしてばかりでは、何(なに)も成(な)し遂(と)げっこない。」

    Angry mother: 'There is no way you are going to accomplish anything if you are just sitting at home, playing games like a hikikomori.'

    どんなに勉強(べんきょう)したって「は」と「が」の違(ちが)いなんて分(わ)かりっこない。

    No matter how much I study, there is no way for me to understand the difference between 'は' and 'が'.

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      っこない – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

      • grasper

        grasper

        @Slysoft Did you understand the grammar point better by now? Even though most of the time, the potential verbs stem is used for the grammar point also in examples on other websites, sometimes the dictionary verb stem is used, and I cannot figure out why.

      • okayfrog

        okayfrog

        I’m having a hard time figuring out how the verb is supposed to be conjugated for this grammar point.

      • crisp-y

        crisp-y

        The page has now been updated to simply verb stem + っこない. This grammar point will almost always attach to the stem of the potential form, but there are some exceptions such as for intransitive verbs (state of being) or verbs with noun forms, which is what you’re likely seeing.

        E.g. 日本語で書く練習をしないと、日本語で書けるようにはなりっこない
        If you do not practice writing in Japanese, there is no way you will become able to write it

        なります is the dictionary form of an intransitive verb, and it already has potential meaning without changing form to potential.

        Similarly, どんなに勉強したって「は」と「が」の違いなんて分かりっこない。
        No matter how much I study, there is no way for me to understand the difference between ‘は’ and ‘が’.

        わかります is also the dictionary form of an intransitive verb, carrying a meaning of potential.

        Now for noun form exceptions, there’s basically ...

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