“〜you ga nai・you no nai”: There's No Way to 〜 (utter impossibility of means) [JLPT N2]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「連絡先を知らないから連絡しようがない」 — there's simply no method to do it.
「連絡先を知らないので、連絡しようがない」 — you want to, but there's no way to do it
Wanting to reach someone but lacking even a means, 「連絡先を知らないので、連絡しようがない」 (I don't know the contact info, so there's no way to reach them) — 「〜ようがない・〜ようのない」 = there's no way to ～, simply no means to ～, used to express “because there's no available means or method, you can't do it even if you want to.” Its key isn't a plain “can't” but “lacking a method, nowhere to start.” This guide covers attachment, the attributive 「ようのない,」 and separating it from 「ことができない／っこない.」
Core: not that you won't — there's simply no method to do it
「verb ます-stem ＋ ようがない」 means “there's no way to ～, no means to ～ (for lack of a method)”:
- こう壊れてしまっては、直しようがない (broken like this, there's no way to fix it).
- 情報がないので、判断しようがない (with no information, there's no way to judge).
- なんとも言いようがない (there's simply no way to put it into words).
Feel: 「よう (様)」 is “method, means,” so 「〜ようがない」 is “there's no method／means to ～” — wanting to do it but finding no viable way, with the resignation of “nowhere to start, at a loss.” Unlike “won't do it” or “can't do it (no skill),” it's “(objectively) there's no method to do it”: 連絡先を知らない → 連絡しようがない (not knowing the contact info, so there's no way to reach them). It corresponds to “no way to ～, can't possibly ～, un-～-able.”
Forms & attachment
| Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb ます-stem ＋ ようがない | no way to ～, can't ～ | 直しようがない （there's no way to fix it） |
| verb ます-stem ＋ ようのない ＋ noun | (attributive) an un-～-able … | 言いようのない不安 |
| idiom | un-～-able | 疑いようがない （there's no room for doubt） |
Examples in context
- データが消えてしまい、復元しようがない。(The data vanished; there's no way to restore it.)
- 本人がそう言うのだから、確かめようがない。(Since the person themselves says so, there's no way to verify.)
- あの惨状は、言葉で表現しようがなかった。(That devastation was beyond words to describe.)
- 彼の優しさは、疑いようがない。(His kindness is beyond doubt.)
- 例えようのない美しさに、言葉を失った。(At the incomparable beauty, I was lost for words.)
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① The core is ‘no method to do it,' not a plain ‘can't.' 「〜ようがない」 differs from a plain 「できない (can't)」: it specifically means “because there's no viable means or method, you can't do it even if you want to” — the focus on “lacking a method, nowhere to start.” It often implies the resignation of “(I really want to, but) I simply can't find a way”: 連絡先がわからないので、連絡しようがない (not knowing the contact info, there's no way to reach them — not unwilling, but no channel), 材料がなければ、作りようがない (with no materials, there's no way to make it). It corresponds to “no way to ～, can't ～.” Test: to stress “for lack of a method／means, can't do it even wanting to” → ようがない. Unlike “can't do it (a skill issue)” — 「泳げない」 is “can't swim (no ability),” while 「泳ぎようがない」 would be “(no water／no venue etc.) there's simply no way to even start swimming.”
② Attach the verb ます-stem; modify nouns with 「ようのない.」 Get the attachment right. Precedes a verb ます-stem (drop ます): 直す→直しようがない, 言う→言いようがない, する→しようがない (連絡する→連絡しようがない). To modify a noun, use the attributive 「ようのない」 (が→の): 言いようのない不安 (nameless unease), 例えようのない (incomparable). Mnemonic: verb ます-stem ＋ ようがない (predicate)／ようのない (modifying a noun).
③ Division of labor with 「ことができない／っこない.」 These three all express some “can't,” but differ in feel. 「〜ようがない」 = no method to do it, no way to ～ (for lack of means, can't even wanting to): 道具がなくて、直しようがない (no tools, no way to fix it). 「〜ことができない」 = (plainly) can't, unable (not stressing the “no method” reason, neutral): 泳ぐことができない (can't swim). 「〜っこない」 = can't possibly ～ (colloquial, an assertive strong negative, subjective): そんなの、できっこない (no way that can be done — colloquial assertion). Difference: ようがない stresses “lacking means, nowhere to start” (objectively no method); ことができない is a neutral “can't”; っこない is a colloquial, subjective “can't possibly.” Test: can't for “no method／means” → ようがない; a plain “can't” → ことができない; a colloquial strong “can't possibly” → っこない. (There's also 〈得ない〉 for “(theoretically) impossible to happen,” leaning written, see 〈得る・得ない〉.)
🔄 Nuance & comparison: ようがない／ことができない／っこない／得ない
| Form | Emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ようがない | no method to do it, no way to ～ (lacking means) | 直しようがない （there's no way to fix it） |
| 〜ことができない | (plainly) can't, unable (neutral) | 泳ぐことができない （cannot swim） |
| 〜っこない | can't possibly ～ (colloquial, assertive) | できっこない （there's no way it can be done） |
| 〜得ない（えない） | (theoretically) impossible to happen (written) | あり得ない |
💡 How to remember this
「〜ようがない・〜ようのない」 = no way to ～, simply can't ～ (for lack of a means, method) — three points: ① the core is “no method to do it, nowhere to start even wanting to” — not a plain “can't,” but “(I really want to, but) I can't find any way” (連絡しようがない = no channel to reach them); ② attach the verb ます-stem, modify nouns with 「ようのない」 (言いようのない不安); ③ division of labor with 「ことができない (neutral can't)／っこない (colloquial can't possibly).」 This pattern is especially good for that resignation of “I want to, but there's really nothing I can do” — 「直しようがない (no way to fix),」 「言いようがない (no way to say).」 The idioms 「言いようがない／疑いようがない／例えようのない」 are also handy. For “(theoretically) impossible to happen,” use 〈得ない〉.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: What's the difference between 「連絡しようがない」 and 「連絡できない」?
The difference is ‘whether it stresses “because there's no method／means.”' 「〜ようがない」 = no method to do it, no way to ～ (stressing “lacking means”): it specifically points out “because there's no viable means or method, you can't do it even wanting to” — the focus on the resignation of “no channel, no way, nowhere to start”: 連絡先を知らないので、連絡しようがない (not knowing the contact info, so there's no way to reach them — stressing “no means to contact”), 証拠がなければ、証明しようがない (with no evidence, no way to prove — stressing “lacking a method to prove”). It implies “(I really want to, but) I simply can't find a way.” 「〜できない（ことができない）」 = (plainly) can't, unable (neutral): it just neutrally expresses “can't, unable,” not specially stressing “why not,” the reason being anything (no ability, forbidden, no time, no method…): 今は忙しくて連絡できない (busy now, can't contact — reason: busy), 規則で連絡できない (can't contact per the rules — reason: rules), 泳ぐことができない (can't swim — reason: no ability). Difference: 「ようがない」 zeroes in on “no method／means” (nowhere to start); 「できない」 is a neutral “can't” (any reason). Test: to stress “for no channel／no method, can't do it even wanting to” → ようがない; to just say “(for some reason) can't” → できない. E.g. 「番号がわからず、電話しようがない (don't know the number, no way to call — no means)」 uses ようがない; 「電池が切れて、電話できない (out of battery, can't call — reason: no battery)」 can use できない. When that “can't” comes from “utterly no method,” ようがない is most vivid.
Q: What do idioms like 「言いようがない」 and 「疑いようがない」 mean?
These are very common set collocations of 「〜ようがない,」 meaning “can't ～, un-～-able,” expressing “(that thing) has reached the point of ‘there's no way to ～,'” often for emphasis. One by one: ① 「言いようがない」 = beyond words, indescribable: for that feeling／situation, no fitting words can be found: なんとも言いようがない気持ちだ (an indescribable feeling — no words to express it). ② 「疑いようがない」 = beyond doubt, indubitable: the fact is so clear there's no room／method even to “doubt”: 彼の才能は疑いようがない (his talent is beyond doubt — no way to doubt it). ③ 「例えようのない」 = incomparable (attributive): nothing can be found to liken it to: 例えようのない美しさ (incomparable beauty). ④ 「救いようがない」 = hopeless, beyond saving: so bad there's no way to remedy it: あいつは救いようがない (that guy is hopeless). Their common logic is all “no method／room to ‘do some action'” — 言う (no way to say), 疑う (no way to doubt), 例える (no way to liken), 救う (no way to save). They're set phrases formed by attaching 「ようがない／ようのない」 to a verb, stronger in tone than 「言えない・疑えない,」 with a “simply no way to ～, can't even begin to ～” flavor. Test: to stress that something “has reached the point of no way to ～” (indescribable／beyond doubt／incomparable) → use 「(verb) ようがない／ようのない.」 These idioms are very natural and add nuance to your expression.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「電話番号も住所も知らないから、連絡し___。」(I know neither the number nor address, so there's no way to contact them)
(A) できない (B) ようがない (C) わけがない (D) はずがない
Q2. 「こんな複雑な問題は、一人で解き___。」(A problem this complex, there's just no way to solve alone)
(A) ようがない (B) できない (C) わけがない (D) はずがない
Q3. 「信じ___ことが起きた。本当に驚いた。」(Something unbelievable happened)
(A) できない (B) ようのない (C) ようがない (D) わけがない
Q4. 「何の証拠もなく、彼が犯人だとは言い___。」(With no evidence, there's no way to say he's the culprit)
(A) ようがない (B) できない (C) わけがない (D) ことができない
Q5. How does ようがない attach? (using 読む as the example)
(A) 読まようがない (B) 読みようがない (C) 読むようがない (D) 読んようがない
Answer Explanations
1. (B) ようがない ── 「連絡しようがない (no possible way to contact)」= no means (not even knowing the number or address), emphasizing the absolute lack of a method → ようがない.
2. (A) ようがない ── 「解きようがない (no way to even begin solving)」= so complex there's no means to solve → ようがない.
3. (C) ようがない ── 「信じようがない (no way to believe)」= 信じる → ます-stem (信じ) + ようがない.
4. (A) ようがない ── 「言いようがない (no way to say it)」= 言う → ます-stem (言い) + ようがない; no grounds on which to say it.
5. (B) 読みようがない ── 読む (godan) → ます-form: 読みます → stem 「読み」+ ようがない = 「読みようがない」. (A) 読ま = ない-form stem, unsuitable; (C) dictionary form unsuitable; (D) an incorrect conjugation.