My smartphone broke and all my contacts disappeared, so there is no way for me to contact him.
📖 Explanation & Nuance
The phrase 「～ようがない」 means "there is no way to do X" or "it's impossible to do X" because the necessary means or method is absent. You attach it to the volitional form of a verb (e.g., 行こう、話そう). It highlights a complete lack of options or methods for carrying out a specific action, making it impossible. Example: スマートフォンが壊れて連絡先がすべて消えてしまったため、彼に連絡し**ようがない**。
ある行動をする手段や方法が全くなく、不可能であることを表します。動詞の意向形に「ようがない」をつけます。
📝 Example Sentence
スマートフォンが壊れて連絡先がすべて消えてしまったため、彼に連絡し「ようがない」。
My smartphone broke and all my contacts disappeared, so there is no way for me to contact him.
Practice Quiz
Verify your grammar strength for "〜ようがない"
Explanation (EN): The phrase 「～ようがない」 means \"there is no way to do X\" or \"it's impossible to do X\" because the necessary means or method is absent. You attach it to the volitional form of a verb (e.g., 行こう、話そう). It highlights a complete lack of options or methods for carrying out a specific action, making it impossible. Example: スマートフォンが壊れて連絡先がすべて消えてしまったため、彼に連絡し**ようがない**。\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ かねない: 'かねない' means 'might accidentally do something bad'. If your phone is broken, you couldn't contact him even if you tried!\n❌ っこない: '連絡しっこない' emphasizes 'I definitely wouldn't contact him!'. Here the problem isn't your willpower, it's the fact that you LACK THE MEANS. Thus, 'ようがない' (no method to do it).\n❌ はずがない: 'はずがない' connects to the dictionary form ('連絡するはずがない' = there's no way I will contact him). Same issue—this implies a lack of intention, not a lack of method.
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