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〜ざるを得ない

JLPT N2 Ability and inevitability

have no choice but to; cannot help but

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ざるを得ない means one is forced to do something against their wishes. Attach ざるを得ない to a verb's ない-stem (する becomes せざるを得ない). It conveys reluctant inevitability, that there is no other option.

Examples

  • のだから、ざるをない。

    Joushi no meirei dakara, shitagawazaru o enai.

    It's the boss's order, so I have no choice but to obey.

  • の、ざるをなかった。

    Taifuu no tame, chuushi sezaru o enakatta.

    Because of the typhoon, we had no choice but to cancel.

Vocabulary in these examples

Related patterns · Ability and inevitability

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