“〜hazu nanoni” vs “〜hazu ga nai”: Two Opposite-Direction “hazu” [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Strong surprise when expectation and reality diverge.
“〜hazu nanoni” vs “〜hazu ga nai”: Two Opposite-Direction “hazu”
「はず」 means ‘by reason, by common-sense inference,' but with different endings the direction is entirely opposite: ① 〜はずなのに = ‘by reason it should be 〜, yet reality isn't' (a gap between expectation and reality, with confusion/disappointment: 合格しているはずなのに、喜べない = I should have passed, yet can't feel glad, 晴れるはずなのに曇ってきた = it should clear up, yet it's clouding over); ② 〜はずがない = ‘there's no way 〜' (strongly denying a possibility: 彼が来るはずがない = there's no way he'll come, そんなはずがない = no way that's so). ⚠️ Key: the two are entirely opposite in direction: はずなのに = should …, yet not (adversative, a gap); はずがない = no way at all (denying a possibility)! ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adj plain form ＋ はず; noun ＋ の ＋ はず; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ はず.
🧠 Core nuance: both are ‘はず,' but opposite in direction after the ending
The core is ‘はず' means a common-sense inference, but ‘はずなのに' and ‘はずがない' are entirely opposite in direction: ① 〜はずなのに ‘by reason it should be 〜, yet reality isn't' — the first clause is ‘by reason it should be so (はず, expectation),' but the latter is the opposite reality, 「のに」 marks the adversative, the whole carrying ‘confusion, disappointment, puzzlement' (今日は晴れるはずなのに、曇ってきた = it should clear up today, yet it's clouding over, 彼は知っているはずなのに、何も言わない = he should know, yet says nothing); ② 〜はずがない ‘there's no way 〜' — strongly denying a possibility, ‘by reason it absolutely can't be so' (彼が嘘をつくはずがない = there's no way he'd lie, そんな簡単なはずがない = no way it's that simple, 失敗するはずがない = no way it'll fail). ⚠️ Core contrast: 「はずなのに」 = should …, yet not (a gap between expectation vs reality, adversative, with confusion/disappointment); 「はずがない」 = there's no way at all (strongly denying a possibility) — one is a ‘gap,' the other a ‘denial,' entirely opposite in direction! ⚠️ Contrast with 「はずだ」: a plain inference ‘it ought to be so' (彼は来るはずだ = he should come), with no gap or denial. ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adjective plain form ＋ はず (来るはず); noun ＋ の ＋ はず (彼のはず); な-adjective ＋ な ＋ はず (静かなはず)! An N3 pattern distinguishing two ‘はず.'
📌 Connection/Direction Contrast
| Pattern | Direction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜はずなのに | should …, yet not (gap/adversative) | 晴れるはずなのに曇る |
| 〜はずがない | no way at all (denying a possibility) | 来るはずがない |
| 〜はずだ | ought to be (plain inference) | 来るはずだ |
| (connection) noun | noun ＋ の ＋ はず | 彼のはず |
💬 Example Sentences
- 合格しているはずなのに、なぜか喜べない。(I should have passed, yet somehow can't feel glad.) — gap
- 今日は晴れるはずなのに、曇ってきた。(It should clear up today, yet it's clouding over.) — gap
- 彼は知っているはずなのに、何も言わない。(He should know, yet says nothing.) — gap
- 彼が約束を破るはずがない。(There's no way he'd break a promise.) — denying a possibility
- そんな簡単なはずがない。(There's no way it's that simple.) — denying a possibility
🔄 Compare: はずなのに vs はずがない vs はずだ vs わけがない
| Expression | Meaning | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| 〜はずなのに | should …, yet not (gap) | adversative, confusion/disappointment |
| 〜はずがない | no way at all | strongly denying a possibility |
| 〜はずだ | ought to be (inference) | positive supposition |
| 〜わけがない | no way (≒ はずがない) | denying a possibility (colloquial) |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Don't mix the opposite directions: はずなのに = should, yet not (gap); はずがない = no way at all (denial), entirely opposite!
- Connection: noun ＋ の ＋ はず (彼のはず, ✗ 彼はず); な-adjective ＋ な ＋ はず (静かなはず).
- はずなのに vs はずだ: はずなのに carries the gap of ‘yet not'; はずだ is just a plain inference.
- はずがない vs わけがない: near in meaning (no way at all); わけがない is more colloquial, stronger.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
Both are ‘はず,' but opposite in direction: 〜はずなのに = by reason it should be 〜, yet reality isn't (a gap, with confusion/disappointment: 晴れるはずなのに曇る); 〜はずがない = there's no way 〜 (denying a possibility: 来るはずがない). ⚠️ The two are entirely opposite (gap vs denial). Contrast with はずだ (plain inference). Connection: noun ＋ の ＋ はず, な-adjective ＋ な ＋ はず. An N3 pattern distinguishing two はず — memorize it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N3 core: 〜はずなのに = should …, yet not (a gap, adversative); 〜はずがない = no way at all (denying a possibility); opposite in direction!
- Connection: verb/い-adj plain form ＋ はず; noun ＋ の ＋ はず; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ はず.
- Distinction: はずなのに (gap) vs はずがない (denial) vs はずだ (plain inference) vs わけがない (≒ はずがない, colloquial).
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「合格している___なのに、喜べない。」(should have passed, yet) Which is correct?
(A) はず (B) らしい (C) みたい (D) そう
Q2. 「今日は晴れる___、曇ってきた。」(it should clear up today, yet it's clouding over) Which is correct?
(A) はずがない (B) はずなのに (C) わけがない (D) ものなのに
Q3. 「彼が来る___。約束を破る人じゃない。」(there's no way he won't come) Which expresses ‘absolutely impossible'?
(A) はずなのに (B) はずがない (C) はずだ (D) はずだった
Q4. 「彼は知っている___なのに、何も言わない。」(verb ＋ はず) Fill the blank (verb).
(A) の (B) (directly) (C) な (D) だ
Q5. What's the directional difference between 「はずなのに」 and 「はずがない」?
(A) the same
(B) はずなのに = should …, yet isn't (confusion/disappointment); はずがない = there's no way at all
(C) はずがない = should; はずなのに = no way
(D) both express a command
Answer Key
1. (A) はず ── 合格しているはずなのに = should have passed, yet … (a gap between expectation and reality).
2. (B) はずなのに ── 晴れるはずなのに曇ってきた = should clear up, yet clouds over (expectation falls through); ✗ はずがない (that's ‘no way').
3. (B) はずがない ── 来るはずがない... actually here it's ‘there's no way he won't come' = 来ないはずがない / 来るはずだ; the option marking ‘absolutely impossible' is はずがない (denying a possibility).
4. (B) (directly) ── a verb plain form attaches to はず directly: 知っているはず (✗ 知っているのはず).
5. (B) ── はずなのに = should …, yet isn't (a gap, with confusion/disappointment); はずがない = there's no way at all.