ざるを得ない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | ざるを得ない | ざるを得なくない |
| Polite | ざるを得ないです | ざるを得なくないですalso ざるを得なくありません |
| Past polite | ざるを得なかったです | ざるを得なくなかったですalso ざるを得なくありませんでした |
| Past | ざるを得なかった | ざるを得なくなかった |
| Te-form | ざるを得なくて | ざるを得なくなくて |
| Adverbial | ざるを得なく | |
| Conditional | ざるを得なければ | ざるを得なくなければ |
| Tara conditional | ざるを得なかったら | ざるを得なくなかったら |
have to; have no choice but to; cannot help doing
Attaches to the -nai stem of a verb (e.g., 行かざるを得ない). Expresses that the action is unavoidable, often due to external circumstances or inner compulsion. More formal and emphatic than ～なければならない.
Due to the bad weather, we had no choice but to cancel the game.
After hearing his explanation, I couldn't help but be convinced.
From the classical negative auxiliary ざる (the 連体形 of ず) + を + 得ない (cannot obtain). Literally 'cannot obtain not doing', i.e., 'cannot avoid doing'.