Translation guide
Expresses that an action is pointless, futile, or will not produce the desired result. Japanese uses several set phrases and grammar patterns depending on the nuance.
It's no use.
It's no use crying.
Saying that doing something is pointless or won't help.
The most common and direct way to say something is useless or a waste of effort. Can be used in many contexts.
It's no use apologizing now.
It's no use trying to explain it to him.
Literally 'there is no meaning'. Emphasizes the lack of purpose or point in doing something.
There's no point in doing that.
Means 'there's nothing you can do even if you...' or 'it's no use doing...'. Often used when the situation is beyond control.
It's no use crying.
More casual version of 〜ても仕方がない. Very common in spoken Japanese.
It's no use saying that now.
Means 'nothing can be done about it' or 'it's hopeless'. Stronger nuance of helplessness.
It's no use anymore.
Emphasizing that an attempt will fail despite effort.
Combines the conditional 〜ても with 無駄だ to say 'even if you do X, it's useless'.
It's no use hurrying. The train has already left.
A more emphatic pattern meaning 'even if one were to do X, it would be useless'. Often used for hypothetical or completed actions.
It's no use protesting now.
Accepting that a situation cannot be changed and further effort is pointless.
無駄だ focuses on the waste of effort, while 仕方がない focuses on the inevitability of the situation. Use 無駄だ when you want to stop someone from trying, and 仕方がない when consoling someone or accepting a bad situation.
It's no use trying to persuade him. (Stop trying.)
It's already over, so it's no use. (Accept it.)
Do not translate 'it's no use' literally as それは使用がない or similar. These are unnatural and will not be understood.
今更後悔しても仕方がない。
It's no use regretting it now.
What's done is done; it's no use.