しょうがない

しょうがない
expression
it can't be helped; there's no way
informalcolloquialexpression
1. it can't be helped; there's no way; oh well
Colloquial form of しかたがない. Expresses resignation or acceptance that nothing can be done about a situation.
しょうがないなあ。
Oh well, what can you do.
忙(いそが)しいんだから、しょうがないでしょ。
I'm busy, so it can't be helped, right?
壊(こわ)れたのはしょうがない。諦(あきら)めよう。
It's broken, so there's nothing we can do. Let's move on.
もう終電(しゅうでん)がないからしょうがない。タクシーで帰(かえ)ろう。
There's no last train anymore, so it can't be helped. Let's take a taxi home.
天気(てんき)ばかりはしょうがない。雨(あめ)でも出(で)かけるしかない。
There's nothing you can do about the weather. We have no choice but to go out even in the rain.
2. can't help doing; can't stop oneself from
When preceded by a verb in て-form, expresses that one cannot help doing something.
眠(ねむ)くてしょうがない。
I'm unbearably sleepy.
食(た)べたくてしょうがない。
I'm dying to eat.
面白(おもしろ)くてしょうがない本(ほん)を見(み)つけた。
I found a book that's so interesting I can't put it down.
試合(しあい)の結果(けっか)が気(き)になってしょうがない。
I can't stop thinking about the game's result.
新(あたら)しいゲームが楽(たの)しくてしょうがないので、毎日(まいにち)遊(あそ)んでいる。
The new game is so much fun that I can't help playing it every day.

Etymology

Contraction of しようがない (there's no way to do it)
仕様(しよう) (way of doing) → しょう

Forms

Common patterns

  • 〜てしょうがない = can't help but ~, unbearably ~

Example: 食(た)べたくてしょうがない (dying to eat)

  • 〜でしょうがない (same meaning, after na-adjectives)

Common expressions

  • しょうがないなあ - oh well, what can you do (with a sigh)
  • しょうがないやつだ - you're hopeless (affectionate criticism)

Register

Casual/colloquial. More common in everyday speech than しかたがない.

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: しかたがない (standard)
Related: 仕様(しよう) (source word)
Compare: どうしようもない (there's nothing to be done)
Related: 仕方(しかた)なく (reluctantly)
core
Added 2026.1.19 15:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07381_shouganai