どうしようもない

どうしようもない
expression
helpless; hopeless; unavoidable
expression
1. helpless; can't be helped; nothing can be done
Expressing that a situation is beyond one's control and there is no way to fix or change it.
こればかりはどうしようもない。
There's nothing that can be done about this.
雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ったらどうしようもない。中止(ちゅうし)にするしかない。
If it rains, there's nothing we can do. We'll have to cancel.
どうしようもない寂(さび)しさを感(かん)じた。
I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
2. hopeless; incorrigible; no good
Describing a person or thing as beyond improvement or redemption.
あいつは本当(ほんとう)にどうしようもないやつだ。
That guy is truly hopeless.
何度(なんど)注意(ちゅうい)しても直(なお)らない。どうしようもない。
No matter how many times I warn him, he doesn't change. He's hopeless.
若(わか)い頃(ころ)はどうしようもない不良(ふりょう)だったが、今(いま)は立派(りっぱ)な社会人(しゃかいじん)だ。
He was a hopeless delinquent when he was young, but now he's a fine member of society.

Composed of どう (how) + しよう (volitional of する) + もない (not even). Literally means "there isn't even a way to do anything about it." Can modify nouns as an adjective: どうしようもない状況(じょうきょう) (hopeless situation). The contracted form どうしようもねえ is used in rough masculine speech. A similar but slightly milder expression is しかたがない / しょうがない (it can't be helped), which implies acceptance rather than frustration.

Related Words

Compare: しかたがない (it can't be helped)
Compare: しょうがない (it can't be helped)
Compare: どうにも (cannot do anything about)
general
Added 2026.3.23 14:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18862_doushiyoumonai