ざるを得ないhave no choice but to
Circumstances leave no way out, so you do it, though you would rather not: "have no choice but to". Or the facts leave no way out of a conclusion: "I have to admit".
an action
For family reasons, I had no choice but to leave the company I had worked at for many years.
a conclusion
All the records agree, so we have to admit that the mistake was ours.
How to form it
Verb ない-form: ない → ざるを得ない する → せざるを得ない
行かない → 行かざるを得ない, 辞めない → 辞めざるを得ない, 来ない → 来ざるを得ない. する is the one irregular: せざるを得ない, never しざるを得ない. It is the same old stem as in せずに. Past 得なかった, polite 得ません.
- Before it
- Something you would sooner not do, or not believe: 辞める, あきらめる, 中止する, 認める.
- What forces it
- Usually said first, with ため, ので or 以上.
- Where you'll meet it
- News, reports, statements, essays, and careful speech in meetings and interviews. Among friends it is usually しかない.
Word for word it is "can't manage not to": ざる is an old ない. Two negatives, so the thing does get done.
In use
Because we are short of staff, we have no choice but to shorten reception hours from next month.
Now that new evidence has come out, we have no choice but to start the investigation again from the beginning.
I have to say that the response this time was too slow.
と言わざるを得ない, "I have to say", is how commentators and officials deliver a hard verdict.
It's for what you would rather not do
Plain なければならない covers any duty. This one says you were pushed into it. With something you are glad to do, it comes out as a joke.
Sounds odd: こんなに
At this price, I have no choice but to buy it.
Said with a grin, online especially.
Close neighbours
しかないN3
What people say. The same "no other choice" in everyday words.
Neither the bus nor a taxi is available, so we'll just have to walk to the venue.
Written too. The weight is on the options running out, not on your reluctance.
As all means of transportation are unavailable, there is no alternative but to proceed to the venue on foot.
やむを得ない is "unavoidable". やむを得ず is a word of its own, in front of an ordinary verb: やむを得ず中止した says what 中止せざるを得なかった says.
With the budget cut, we had no choice but to scale back the plan.
ずにはいられないN2
"Can't help doing": a feeling is too strong, so you do it.
When I saw that photo, I couldn't help laughing.
Check yourself
1Which one is right?
台風で、
Choose an answer to see why.
2What happened?
部長に
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
With the budget cut, we have no choice but to scale back the plan.
A serious defect was found, and the company was left with no choice but to stop selling the product.
得なくなった: it came to that.
With no other customer to supply, we have no choice but to accept this contract, harsh terms and all.
Looking at these figures, I have to admit that our first judgment was wrong.