Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

せざるを得ない (せざるをえない) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

せざるを得えない

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

cannot avoid doing; have no choice but to do

Formal/literary expression meaning 'cannot help but do' or 'must do'. Attaches to the negative (未然形) form of a verb. Stronger and more formal than ～なければならない.

See also: ざる

悪あく天てん候こうのため、登と山ざんを断だん念ねんせざるを得えなかった。
Due to the bad weather, we had no choice but to give up climbing the mountain.
彼かれの誠せい実じつさを認みと

Kanji

得gain, get, find

Similar words

なければならない
Common, neutral way to express obligation or necessity. せざるを得ない is more formal and implies an unavoidable situation rather than a simple duty.
ざるを得えない
Same meaning and construction, but せざるを得ない is the form used with する-verbs (e.g., する → せざるを得ない).

Etymology

Combination of the negative auxiliary ず (in its classical attributive form ざる) + particle を + verb 得ない ('cannot obtain'). Literally 'cannot obtain not doing', i.e., 'cannot avoid doing'.

め

ざる

を

得え

ない

。

I cannot help but acknowledge his sincerity.