Japanese

Alternative forms

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

Phrase

仕方が無い ‎(hiragana しかたがない, romaji shikata ga nai)

1. it can't be helped, nothing can be done about it, have no choice
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 4095102535.