The grammar point 〜ようがない is used to express that something is impossible because you lack the means, method, or opportunity to do it. Its closest English translation is “There is no way to…” or “It is impossible to…”
The word よう (様) here is a noun that means “way” or “method.” By attaching the negative がない, the structure literally states: “There is no method to do [verb].”
【Verb: Stem】ようがない
【Verb: Stem】ようもない (Even stronger/more emphatic)
Crucial Conjugation Rule: Because it sounds exactly like the volitional form (let’s do…), students frequently make the mistake of conjugating Group 1 verbs into their “ou” form. Remember, it must attach to the Verb Stem.
行こうがない。(✘)
行きようがない。 (〇)
泥棒は警察に取り囲まれて、逃げようがなかった。
The robber was surrounded by police and had no way to escape.
どうしようもない。
There’s nothing that can be done / It can’t be helped.
The above is an extremely common set phrase in daily conversation.
否定しようがない事実である。
It is a fact that cannot be denied.
この投資は間違いないよ。お金を損しようがない。
This investment is a sure thing. There’s no way you can lose money.
彼が山に登っている最中だから連絡を取りようがない。
He’s in the middle of climbing a mountain, so we have no way to contact him.
JLPT Comparison: ようがない vs. わけがない
Because both can be translated as “there is no way,” they are often tested against each other. ようがない means you literally lack the tool, method, or means to do the action. わけがない means the action defies logic or expectation.
直しようがない: “There is no way to fix it” (It is completely shattered; the method of fixing it doesn’t exist).
直せるわけがない: “There’s no way I can fix it!” (It’s illogical to expect me to fix it, I don’t know anything about electronics!).