〜ようがない you ga nai

〜ようがない（you ga nai）means “there is no way to ...; can't possibly ...”. Attaches to the masu-stem of a verb to say there is simply no method or means to do that action, so it is impossible no matter what. Formation: V-ます（ます形の語幹）+ ようがない（＝ようもない）

there is no way to ...; can't possibly ...

N3

Formation

V-ます（ます形の語幹）+ ようがない（＝ようもない）

Explanation

Attaches to the masu-stem of a verb to say there is simply no method or means to do that action, so it is impossible no matter what. It stresses the lack of any possible way, not just unwillingness. The variant 〜ようもない has the same meaning.

Examples

連絡先を知らないので、彼に知らせようがない。
れんらくさきをしらないので、かれにしらせようがない。
I don't know his contact info, so there's no way to let him know.
原因が分からなければ、直しようがない。
げんいんがわからなければ、なおしようがない。
If we don't know the cause, there's no way to fix it.

Note

Stem irregulars: する→しようがない, 来る→きようがない. For regular verbs use the masu-stem (e.g. 言う→言いようがない).

FAQ

〜ようがない — what does it mean and how is it used?

there is no way to ...; can't possibly .... Attaches to the masu-stem of a verb to say there is simply no method or means to do that action, so it is impossible no matter what. It stresses the lack of any possible way, not just unwillingness. The variant 〜ようもない has the same meaning.

〜ようがない — how do you form it?

V-ます（ます形の語幹）+ ようがない（＝ようもない）

〜ようがない — any usage notes?

Stem irregulars: する→しようがない, 来る→きようがない. For regular verbs use the masu-stem (e.g. 言う→言いようがない).

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