仕方(しかた)なく

しかたなく
adverb
reluctantly; having no choice
1. reluctantly; unwillingly; having no other choice
Describes doing something because there is no alternative, not because one wants to.
電車(でんしゃ)がなかったので、仕方(しかた)なくタクシーに乗(の)った。
Since there were no trains, I reluctantly took a taxi.
仕方(しかた)なく残業(ざんぎょう)することになった。
I had no choice but to work overtime.
誰(だれ)も手伝(てつだ)ってくれないから、仕方(しかた)なく一人(ひとり)でやった。
Since no one would help me, I had no choice but to do it alone.

FORMATION:
仕方(しかた) (way/method) + ない (not exist) + く (adverb form)

From 仕方(しかた)がない meaning 'there's no way/it can't be helped.'

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 仕方(しかた)がない / しょうがない - it can't be helped
  • 仕方(しかた)なしに - reluctantly (slightly more literary)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 嫌々(いやいや) - reluctantly, unwillingly (emphasizes dislike)
  • やむを得(え)ず - unavoidably (formal)
  • 渋々(しぶしぶ) - reluctantly (shows visible reluctance)

NUANCE:
仕方(しかた)なく implies acceptance of the situation; 嫌々(いやいや) emphasizes reluctance and displeasure.

Related Words

Related: 嫌々(いやいや) (reluctantly)
Related: 仕方(しかた)がない (it can't be helped)
general
Added 2026.1.19 12:00 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07161_shikatanaku