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.
無駄だ。
It's no use.
泣いても仕方がない。
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.
今さら謝っても無駄だ。
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.
そんなことをしても意味がない。
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.
泣いても仕方がない。
It's no use crying.
今更後悔しても仕方がない。
It's no use regretting it now.
More casual version of 〜ても仕方がない. Very common in spoken Japanese.
今さら言ってもしょうがないよ。
It's no use saying that now.
Means 'nothing can be done about it' or 'it's hopeless'. Stronger nuance of helplessness.
もうどうにもならない。
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'.
急いでも無駄だ。電車はもう出た。
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.
今さら抗議したところで無駄だ。
It's no use protesting now.
Accepting that a situation cannot be changed and further effort is pointless.
A very common phrase meaning 'it can't be helped' or 'there's no use worrying about it'. Expresses resignation.
雨だから、しょうがないね。
It's raining, so it's no use (complaining).
The more formal version of しょうがない. Used in both speech and writing.
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.
説得しようとしても無駄だ。
It's no use trying to persuade him. (Stop trying.)
もう終わったことだから仕方がない。
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.
終わったことは仕方がない。
What's done is done; it's no use.