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使わざるを得ない (つかわざるをえない) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, i-adjective
have no choice but to use ; forced to use
Fixed expression meaning 'cannot help but use' or 'have no choice but to use'. The ざるを得ない pattern is a formal/literary way to express unavoidable necessity. Often used when the speaker is reluctant or the situation is beyond their control.
See also: 使わざるを得ず (つかわざるをえず)
彼かれ は 反はん 対たい 意い 見けん だっ た が 、 多た 数すう 決けつ で その 案あん を 使つか わ ざる を 得え なかっ た 。
He was against it, but due to the majority vote, he had no choice but to use that plan.
Kanji 使 use, send on a mission, order Similar words ざるを 得え ない The general grammatical pattern meaning 'cannot help but do'; 使わざるを得ない is a specific instance with the verb 使う.
使つか わなければならない A more common and neutral way to say 'must use', without the nuance of reluctance or inevitability.
Etymology Combination of the negative stem 使わ (from 使う) + ざる (classical negative of する) + を + 得ない (negative of 得る, 'cannot obtain'), literally 'cannot obtain not using' → 'cannot avoid using'. The ざるを得ない pattern is a classical Japanese construction that survives in modern formal/written language.
