Meaning

Primary

Can't Be Helped

Alternatives

It's No Use, There's No Other Way

Word Type

expression

Explanation

You’ve already learned 仕方, which you know means "method" or "way of doing." When you don’t (that’s the がない part) have a way of doing or achieving something, you could say it can’t be helped, it’s no use, or there’s no other way. Makes sense, right? This is a popular phrase in Japanese, so we're sure you'll encounter it a lot!

Reading

しかたがない
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

You already know how to read this from having learned 仕方, so you should be good to go!

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • ミスは仕方がない

    mistakes cannot be helped

    これは仕方がない

    this cannot be helped

    それは仕方がない

    that cannot be helped

Context Sentences

そこにずっと立っていても仕方がないよ。

It's no use even if you kept standing over there.

フライトがなくて日本に来られないのは仕方がない。

There's nothing you can do about coming to Japan when there's no flight available.

雨の日が少なかったんだから、今年の水不足は仕方がないよ。

There were not many rainy days, this year's water shortage couldn't be helped.

Kanji Composition