術がないthere is no means of
A written, slightly literary "there is no way to". 術 is read すべ here, not じゅつ, and means a way of doing something. In conversation people say ようがない.
With every communication line cut, there was no way to call for outside help.
The workers were helpless in the face of the sudden landslide.
How to form it
Verb dictionary form + 術がない
知る術がない, 確かめる術がない. Often written in kana: すべがない. With も for が it is stronger: 知る術もない.
- The common ones
- なす術がない (nothing one can do), 知る術がない (no way of knowing), 確かめる術がない (no way of checking). Other verbs go there too.
- Tone
- Grave. Most at home with disasters, illness, lost contact, and things that can no longer be found out.
- Where you'll meet it
- News reports, documentaries, novels, history. One to recognize more than to say.
In use
At the time, there was no way to slow the progress of this disease.
The instruments have failed, so we have no way of knowing exactly where we are.
With the other party anonymous, we have no way of getting in touch with them.
なす術もなく
なす is an old verb for "do". なす術もなく is "helplessly", and what follows is all that was left: watching, waiting.
The residents watched helplessly as their houses were swept away.
術がない or ようがない?
Now that he has died, there is no way of knowing the real reason.
What people say. It goes on the ます-stem.
Now that he has died, there is no way of knowing the real reason.
The same thing in a newspaper or a novel. It follows the dictionary form.
Close neighbours
The everyday way to say it. For なす術がない, people say どうしようもない or どうにもならない: nothing can be done.
It's no use regretting it now.
Check yourself
1なす術がない, "there is nothing one can do". How is 術 read here?
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
記録が
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
Without ない, 術 is "the way to": 生きる術, how to get by; 身を守る術, how to protect yourself.
She learned early how to get by on her own.
More sentences
Right after the disaster struck, there was no way to grasp the full extent of the damage.
With the muddy torrent bearing down on us, there was nothing we could do.
With current technology, there is no way to reproduce this phenomenon completely.
Both readings in one sentence: 技術, 術.
The only bridge had collapsed, leaving no means of getting supplies to the village.