JLPT N3 Grammar (te shou ga nai/te shikata ga nai)

Meaning

can't help but; very; extremely ~

How to use

Verb (て form)しょうがない
しかたがない
な-adjective +
い-adjective + くて
te shou ga nai てしょうがない jlpt n3 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (te shou ga nai) & 「てしかたがない」 (te shikata ga nai). Meaning: can’t help but; very; extremely ~.

This grammar expresses a natural feeling or emotion that is out of control of the speaker.

For shikata ga nai, both the kanji and hiragana versions are commonly used.


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

わたしはそれがきになってしょうがない。
watashi wa sore ga ki ni natte shou ga nai.
I can't help thinking about that.
Example #2

きょうはさむくてしょうがない。
kyou wa samukute shou ga nai.
It's simply too cold today.
Example #3

きょうはなにもすることがなくて、ひまでしかたがない。
kyou wa nanimo suru koto ga nakute, hima de shikata ga nai.
I have nothing to do today and am very bored.
Example #4

おかねをくれて、うれしくてしょうがない。
o kane o kurete, ureshikute shou ga nai.
I was given some money and feel so happy.
Example #5

バスでいくのは、じかんがかかってしょうがない。
basu de iku no wa, jikan ga kakatte shou ga nai.
Going by bus takes more time, but it can't be helped.
Example #6

かいがいでひとりぐらしをはじめたばかりなので、さびしくてしかたがありません。
kaigai de hitori gurashi o hajimeta bakari nano de, sabishikute shikata ga arimasen.
I feel a little lonely because I just started living abroad alone, but it cannot be helped.
Example #7

さいきんはやることがないので、まいにちがひまでしかたがない。
saikin wa yaru koto ga nai node, mainichi ga hima de shikata ga nai.
I have nothing to do lately and am bored everyday, but it can't be helped.
Example #8

すきなアイドルのライブのチケットがうれきった。ちこくして、もうかえないのでざんねんでしょうがない。
suki na aidoru no raibu no chiketto ga urekitta. chikoku shite, mou kaenai no de zannen de shou ga nai.
The concert tickets for the idol I like sold out. I didn't buy them in time and unfortunately there's nothing I can do..

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
睡眠不足すいみんぶそくsleep deprivation
疲れるつかれるto be tired
お腹が空いたおなかがすいたto be hungry (empty stomach)
気になるきになるto be interested
ひまfree time (nothing to do)
嬉しいうれしいhappy
売れ切るうれきるto sell out
遅刻するちこくto be late; tardy
残念ざんねんunfortunate

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JLPT N3 vocabulary list

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