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Formation: V-ます stem + ようがない; する verbs: N + の + しようがない (連絡のしようがない); V-ます stem + ようもない (emphatic); V-ます stem + ようのない + N

Says that there is no way or means to do something, even if one wanted to, usually because information, tools or circumstances are missing. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing, and ようのない + N is a common written form (言いようのない不安, 疑いようのない事実). しょうがない, from しようがない, has become a fixed phrase meaning 'it can't be helped'. Compare 〜わけがない, which judges that something cannot be true, and 〜得ない, a formal statement that something cannot logically happen. 〜（よ）うにも〜ない stresses that you want or try to act but can't. 〜よりほかない is the opposite case: one option is left, rather than none.

Variants: 〜ようもない、〜ようのない + N、N + のしようがない、しょうがない (fixed phrase)

Examples

• 住所も電話番号も知らないので、連絡のしようがない。
  I don't know their address or phone number, so there's no way to contact them.
• ここまで壊れていては、もう直しようがない。
  Broken this badly, it's beyond repair.
• 言いようのない寂しさに襲われた。
  I was overcome by a loneliness I couldn't put into words.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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