〜ようがない: 'There's No Way To' (Meaning + Examples)
No available method to do something
〜ようがない attaches to a verb stem and says that doing that action is impossible because the necessary means, information, or resources are missing — often stated after explaining why nothing can be done.
住所が分からないので、手紙を送りようがない。
じゅうしょが わからないので、てがみを おくりようがない。
Since I don't know the address, there's no way to send the letter.
Missing information (the address) makes the action impossible.
証拠がないので、彼を疑いようがない。
しょうこが ないので、かれを うたがいようがない。
Since there's no evidence, there's no way to suspect him.
やったんは充電器をどこかに置いてきてしまい、もちに電話を確認しようがなかった。
やったんは じゅうでんきを どこかに おいてきてしまい、もちに でんわを かくにんしようがなかった。
Yattan had left his charger somewhere, so there was no way for him to check his phone to reach Mochi.
Original example: missing tool (charger) → no possible method.
Form: Verb stem + ようがない
ようがない attaches to the ます-stem of a verb (drop ます), replacing it with ようがない.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (ます-stem) | V(stem) + ようがない | 説明しようがない = there's no way to explain it |
| Verb (ます-stem) | V(stem) + ようがない | 直しようがない = there's no way to fix it |
連絡先を知らないので、彼に確認しようがない。
れんらくさきを しらないので、かれに かくにんしようがない。
Since I don't know his contact information, there's no way to confirm it with him.
Not the same as 〜できない
〜できない is a general "cannot do" that covers ability, permission, or circumstance broadly. 〜ようがない is narrower and more specific: it points at the absence of a method or means, and is almost always paired with a reason clause (ので/から) explaining what's missing — an address, evidence, contact information. Use ようがない when the issue is literally "there's no way to even begin," not just general inability.
The short version
- 〜ようがない = "there's no way to (do something)" — the means to do it doesn't exist.
- Attaches to: verb ます-stem + ようがない.
- Nuance/register: neutral-to-frustrated; usually follows a reason clause explaining what's missing.
- Don't confuse with: 〜できない, a broader "cannot do" not tied specifically to missing means or information.
Practice it
Choose the correct use of 〜ようがない to say there's no available way to do something.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
住所が分からないので、＿＿＿。
Where 〜ようがない fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜ことができる · N5 — 〜ことができる expresses ability: dictionary-form verb + ことができる ('can do'). Learn the verb pattern, the noun + ができる pattern, the polite and negative forms, and how it compares to the potential form.
More N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜を通じて — 〜を通じて means 'through/by means of X' (a channel or medium) or, with a time period, 'throughout X'; near-identical to を通して, but leans slightly more toward indirect channels and continuous stretches of time.
- 〜につき — につき has two separate uses: attached to a noun of quantity it means 'per' (１ダースにつき３ドル), while attached to a reason noun in formal notices it means 'due to / because of' (本日休業につき).
- 〜ほど — 〜ほど expresses degree or extent — 'to the point that,' as in 目の玉が飛び出るほど高い ('so expensive your eyes pop out'). It measures how far something goes by describing a vivid consequence or comparison.
- 〜に比べて — 〜に比べて attaches to a noun and means 'compared to / in comparison with,' setting up a baseline before stating how something differs from it: 去年に比べて、今年は暑い ('compared to last year, this year is hot').
- 〜というより — 〜というより means 'rather than say [X], it's more accurate to say...' — it corrects or refines a description someone might expect. Often used to swap a first impression for a more precise word.
- 〜限り — 〜限り marks the outer limit of something — 'as long as / as far as ~ is concerned' when attached to a clause with に関する限り(では), or 'every last bit of' in set phrases like あらん限り. Both readings trace back to 限る, 'to be limited to.'