Translation guide
To accept something unpleasant that cannot be changed. In Japanese, this is often expressed with phrases meaning 'there's no choice' or 'it can't be helped', or with verbs that convey giving up or accepting fate.
Express that you have no choice but to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation.
A very common phrase meaning 'it can't be helped' or 'there's no choice'. Used when you accept a situation as unavoidable.
Express that you are giving up on a personal goal or desire, often with a sense of disappointment.
A phrase meaning 'to be able to give up' or 'to come to terms with'. It implies reaching a point of acceptance after struggling.
やっと諦めがついた。
I've finally resigned myself to it.
仕方がない (shikata ga nai) is used for situations beyond your control, like bad weather. 諦める (akirameru) is used when you personally give up on a goal or desire. Use 仕方がない for external circumstances and 諦める for internal acceptance.
雨だから仕方がない。
It's raining, so it can't be helped.
彼は彼女を諦めた。
He gave up on her.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'resign oneself'. Avoid trying to translate it word-for-word. Instead, use the phrases and verbs above depending on the context.
雨が降っているから、仕方がない。
It's raining, so I guess I have to resign myself to it.
A more casual variant of 仕方がない, with the same meaning. Very common in spoken Japanese.
電車が遅れてるけど、しょうがないね。
The train is late, but we just have to resign ourselves to it.
A verb meaning 'to give up' or 'to resign oneself'. It implies accepting that something won't happen or can't be changed.
彼は夢を諦めた。
He resigned himself to giving up his dream.
A more formal phrase meaning 'unavoidable' or 'there's no other way'. Often used in written or formal contexts.
やむを得ない事情で欠席します。
I will be absent due to unavoidable circumstances (I have to resign myself to it).
A verb meaning 'to resign oneself to one's fate' or 'to give up hope'. It has a nuance of accepting a hopeless situation.
彼は観念して罪を認めた。
He resigned himself and admitted his guilt.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to prepare oneself for the worst' or 'to resign oneself to a difficult situation'. It implies steeling one's resolve.
腹をくくって謝りに行った。
I resigned myself to it and went to apologize.