〜ようがない
JLPT N3:no way to
Says there is no way or method to do something: "there's no way to…", "can't possibly…".
How to form it
- Start from the ます form and replace ます with ようがない: 答えます becomes 答えようがない.
- With a noun + する verb, the noun often takes の: 連絡のしようがない (no way to get in touch).
Examples
電話番号が分からないから、連絡のしようがない。
I don't know the number, so I have no way to contact him.
そんな質問には答えようがない。
There's no way to answer a question like that.
Notes
- It is about having no means, not about ability.
- どうしようもない is a set phrase: "it can't be helped", "hopeless".
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with 〜ようにする, which follows the dictionary form.