Ways to say "can't" and "no way"
English says "can't" and "there's no way" for two different things: something can't be true, or you can't do it. Japanese has different forms for each. For "that can't be true", start with はずがない. For "I can't", start with できない or 行けない, the plain "can't"; most of the others make it softer or stronger, or say what stops you.
| That can't be true | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| はずがない | From what you know, it can't be so | Everyday |
| わけがない | Much the same, often with more feeling | Everyday |
| ありえない | "Impossible"; in shock, "unbelievable" | Everyday conversation |
| I can't do it | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| できない, 行けない | The plain "can't" | Everyday |
| 行けそうにない | Softer: "it doesn't look like I can" | Everyday |
| とても～ない | "Can't possibly": it is beyond you | Spoken and written |
| っこない | A casual "no way" | Friends and family |
| 無理だ | "Impossible": a flat no | Everyday |
| には無理がある | Less than a flat no: it asks too much | Spoken and written |
| ようがない | "No way to": the means are missing | Spoken and written |
| しょうがない, どうしようもない | "It can't be helped"; "nothing can be done" | Everyday |
| どうしても～ない, どうにも～ない | "Just can't", whatever you try | Spoken and written |
| 帰ろうにも帰れない, 言うに言えない | You want to, and can't | Spoken and written |
| 術がない, べくもない | "No way to", in writing | News, novels, essays |
"That can't be true": ruling an idea out
はずがない and わけがない: it can't be so
Full pageはずだ・
はずがない rules something out from what you know: a fact, a record, a schedule. わけがない means much the same, often with more feeling: the idea is unthinkable to you. In conversation it shortens to わけない.
This bag is empty, so it can't be heavy.
There is no way you can win without having practiced even once.
What is ruled out is very often a "can": できるわけがない.
Each has a set reply to something you can't believe: そんなはずはない and そんなわけない.
That can't be right. I booked by phone yesterday.
The polite form, said to a clerk who can't find your booking.
No way. He only just became section chief last month.
A reply to "I hear Tanaka is quitting". Said in reply, わけがない brushes the idea aside, even in the polite わけがありません.
ありえない: impossible, or unbelievable
Full page得る・
ありえない is "impossible" and, said in shock or protest, "unbelievable".
That's impossible. He checked the list himself yesterday.
Making people wait a whole hour? Unbelievable.
"I can't do it": something stops you
行けない and 行けそうにない: the plain "can't", and a softer one
Full page書ける・
The everyday "can't" is the potential ("can") form with ない: 行けない, 読めない, できない. ことができない means the same and is more formal. With そうにない or そうもない in place of ない, it is softer.
I'm sorry, I can't come tomorrow.
Flat. It is settled.
I'm sorry, it doesn't look like I can come tomorrow.
Still a no, and how people turn something down politely.
とても～ない: can't possibly
Full pageとても～ないN3
Before a negative that means "can't", とても is not "very". It is "can't possibly": whatever you do, it is beyond you.
This curry is very hot.
Nothing negative follows: "very".
This curry is so hot that I can't possibly eat it.
A "can't" follows: "can't possibly".
"Not very" is あまり…ない: あまり辛くない, "not very hot".
I couldn't possibly eat this much.
With ません, a polite, modest no.
っこない: a casual "no way"
Full pageっこないN3
っこない is a casual "no way" for friends and family, too blunt for a teacher, a boss or a customer. It goes on the ます-stem, mostly of a "can" form (できっこない) or a verb for how things turn out (間に合いっこない). できるわけがない says much the same as できっこない, less casually.
There's no way I can do a problem like that.
There's no way my little brother will get into that university.
About what someone else can do, it can be a put-down.
っこない, とても～ない or そうにない?
Three ways to say you won't make it in time.
Even if we leave now, there's no way we'll make the last train.
Casual and emphatic: to a friend.
Even if we start running now, we can't possibly make the last train.
Neutral. It works in polite talk and in writing too.
The train is more than an hour late, so it doesn't look like I'll make the meeting.
Softer: you are going by how things look. To a boss or a customer.
無理だ and には無理がある: impossible, and asking too much
Full pageには無理があるN1
無理だ is "impossible", and 無理です also turns something down flat. には無理がある says less than "impossible": a plan or a schedule asks too much, or an explanation doesn't hold up.
This schedule is impossible.
私には無理です is "it's beyond me".
This schedule asks too much.
It finds a fault in the schedule, which can be argued over and fixed.
Doing both Kyoto and Nara in one day is a bit much.
In conversation people also say のは for には.
ようがない: there is no way to
Full pageようがない・
ようがない says the means are missing: no address, no parts, no record. Will and skill don't come into it. It goes on the ます-stem: 直しようがない.
With no manual and no model number, there is no way to repair this machine.
I don't know their address or their phone number, so I have no way of getting in touch.
A する-verb: the noun, の, then しようがない.
しょうがない and どうしようもない: it can't be helped
Full pageようがない・
しょうがない and どうしようもない are everyday phrases made from する and ようがない. しょうがない is しようがない shortened, and どうしようもない has も in place of が. 仕方がない means the same as しょうがない and is a little less casual.
しょうがないit can't be helped
The trains have stopped, so it can't be helped.
どうしようもないnothing can be done
It's no use regretting it now.
どうしても～ない and どうにも～ない: just can't
With a "can't", どうしても and どうにも both say that you just can't, whatever you try.
I couldn't get to sleep last night, however hard I tried.
The commoner of the two: it is about the effort.
I just couldn't get to sleep last night.
More of a sigh: nothing to be done.
どうにもならない, "nothing can be done", says much the same as どうしようもない.
Where どうしても～ない is about the effort, とても～ない is a verdict on the thing: it is too much for you, and you can say so without trying.
帰ろうにも帰れない and 言うに言えない: you want to, and can't
Full page言うに言えない・
帰ろうにも帰れない says that you want to, or try, and can't: usually something outside you is in the way. It is made with any verb: the volitional ("let's") form, にも, then a "can't". 言うに言えない is one of a few fixed phrases, mostly for when your own feelings or your position hold you back.
The last train had gone and I had lost my wallet, so I couldn't get home, much as I wanted to.
ようがない says only that the means are missing.
I knew the real reason, but I couldn't bring myself to tell the person concerned.
Where it goes wrong
English says "no way" for はずがない and for ようがない.
We have never met, so there is no way he knows my face.
No way that he knows: an idea is ruled out.
As long as the person says nothing, we have no way of knowing their true intentions.
No way of knowing: the means are missing.
ようがない goes on the ます-stem, because its よう means "way". The "let's" form belongs to 帰ろうにも帰れない.
Not said: 名前も
(Without even a name, there is no way to look for them.)
探しようがない.
術がない and べくもない: in writing
術がない is ようがない for news reports, novels and history books. 術 is read すべ here, not じゅつ. なす術もなく is "helplessly".
Now that he has died, there is no way of knowing the real reason.
In conversation people say 知りようがない.
べくもない is found in a few written phrases for what is out of reach, such as 望むべくもない.
As things stand, total victory is out of the question.
More literally, "can't even hope for".
Other things "can't" and "no way" can mean
わけにはいかないN3Everyday
"Can't very well": you could, but duty, manners or your position stop you.
My staff are still working, so I can't very well be the only one to go home.
ずにはいられないN2
"Can't help …ing": the feeling is too strong, so you do it.
When I saw that photo, I couldn't help laughing.
まさかN3
"No way!" as a cry of surprise. Between friends うそ says the same.
Pages in this comparison
- はずだ・
はずがないshould be; can't be · N4 - わけがないthere's no way · N3
- 得る・
得ないcan, cannot (in principle) · N2 - 書ける・
食べられる・ できる・ 来られるcan; the potential form · N4 - そうもない・
そうにないdoesn't look like it will · N3 - とても～ないcan't possibly · N3
- っこないno way; never going to · N3
- には無理があるasks too much; doesn't hold up · N1
- ようがない・
ようもないthere is no way to · N2 - どうしてもjust can't; no matter what · N3
- どうにも～ないnothing to be done; just can't · N1
- 言うに言えない・
帰ろうにも帰れないwant to, but can't · N1 - 術がないthere is no means of · N1
- べくもないno way to; out of the question · N1