Structure Legend
Structure
Verb + より + (ほか(1))+ 仕方がない(2)
(1) ほかに(2) 仕方ない
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About よりしかたがない
Often seen as a set phrase, よりしかたがない consists of より, the noun 仕方 'way' or 'method', が and ない. When preceded by a verb in its dictionary form, it just conveys that 'there is no choice but (A)', or that '(A) cannot be helped'.
Occasionally the が will be dropped, between 仕方 and ない.
As with 仕方が, the に will often be dropped in 他に.
Occasionally the が will be dropped, between 仕方 and ない.
- この建物はボロボロでいつ倒れてもおかしくないので、倉庫として使いたいなら立て直すより仕方がない。This building is in bad condition and could fall down at any time, so if I want to use it as a warehouse, I have no choice but to rebuild it.
- 高速道路が通行止めになっている為、下道を使うより仕方がない。Since the expressway is closed, there is no choice but to take the normal road.
- 生活をするにはお金が必要なので働くより仕方ない。I need money in order to live, so there is no choice but to work.
As with 仕方が, the に will often be dropped in 他に.
- 自転車のチェーンとブレーキがぶっ壊れたので、捨てるより他にない。My bicycle chain and brakes are busted, so I have no choice but to throw them away.
- 上司のパワハラのせいで病んできたので、精神科に行くより他にない。My mental health is not doing well because of my boss' power harassment, so I have no choice but to go to a therapist.
- あんなひどい事を言ってしまったので、謝るより他ない。Because I said such a terrible thing, I have no choice but to apologize.
Synonyms
Examples
税金は、高くとも納めるよりしかたがない。
We have no choice but to pay taxes, even if they are high.
税金は、納めるよりしかたのないものだ。
It is a fact that there is no choice but to pay taxes.
when しかたがない is used in a relative clause が can be changed to の.
人生には好調な日もあれば、不調な日もある。したがって、不調の日は受け入れるより仕方がないと思う。
In life, there are both good days and bad days. Therefore we have no choice but to accept the bad ones.
親になると夜中赤ちゃんに起こされることに慣れるよりしかたがない。
If you become a parent, you have no choice but to get accustomed to being woken up in the middle of the night.
マラソン大会に出たいなら、地道にトレーニングを積むよりしかたがない。
If you want to enter a marathon, there is no choice but to steadily pile on the training.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Japanese breakdown
NihongoNoSensei
Additional examples
E-Japanese
Offline
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 169
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
よりしかたがない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
Mannelito
About 1 year ago
I’m having a really hard time separating より仕方がない and よりほかない, I can’t figure out a consistent pattern to tell these apart/which one to use and when. Somebody help!?
IcyIceBear
About 3 months ago
I know these parts of the forum don’t see much light but I thought I’d ask anyway. The sentence prompt asked for formal -old fashioned . But no where in the grammar description does it say old fashion, and in the grammar info it says it’s standard register
Got questions about よりしかたがない? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion