also: しょうのない
expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
hopeless; good-for-nothing; incorrigible
Describes a person or situation that cannot be helped, fixed, or improved; often carries a tone of resigned exasperation.
彼はしようのない怠け者だ。
He's a hopelessly lazy person.
この機械はもうしようのない状態だ。
This machine is beyond repair now.
expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
Used for ideas, actions, or statements that are so unreasonable or ridiculous that they seem beyond help; often interchangeable with sense 1 but emphasizes irrationality.
Stop making such absurd excuses.
彼の提案はしようのないほど馬鹿げている。
His proposal is so preposterous it's beyond belief.
Colloquial contracted form of しようのない, common in casual speech.
Kanji spelling is rare and literary; the kana form is strongly preferred.
From 仕様 (しよう, 'way, method') + の (possessive particle) + ない ('not exist'), literally 'there is no way'. The contracted form しょうのない is a common colloquial reduction.