為せん術すべ

noun

proper method; way to do something; means

Used almost exclusively in negative or desperate contexts, such as せんすべがない or せんすべなく, meaning 'there is no way to deal with it' or 'at a loss for what to do'. The word is somewhat literary and old-fashioned.

• 突とつ然ぜんの事じ故こに、為せん術すべもなく立たち尽つくした。

  Faced with the sudden accident, I stood there helplessly with no means to act.

• 彼かれはせんすべなく、ただ空そらを見み上あげていた。

  He had no recourse and just looked up at the sky.