仕方がない

仕方がない

Japanese

Kanji in this term
仕	方
し Grade: 3	かた Grade: 2

Alternative forms

• 仕 (し)方 (かた)が無 (な)い (shikata ga nai)
• 仕 (し)方 (かた)ない (shikata nai)
• 仕 (し)様 (よう)がない (shiyō ga nai)
• しょうがない (shō ga nai)

Etymology

Phrase composed of 仕方がない (shikata ga nai, literally “there is no way”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɕika̠ta̠ ɡa̠ na̠i]

Phrase

仕方がない (hiragana しかたがない, rōmaji shikata ga nai)

1. it can't be helped, nothing can be done about it, have no choice, c'est la vie, it is what it is
2. it is no use
3. it cannot be borne, one cannot help but (+ verb)

Synonyms

• (Kansai) しゃあない (shā nai)

Related terms

• 仕 (し)方 (かた)のない (shikata no nai), 仕 (し)方 (かた)の無 (な)い (shikata no nai): that can't be helped (adjectival phrase modifying a noun)

References

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.