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Formation: V-ない form (〜ない→〜ざる) + を得ない; する→せざるを得ない; 来る→来ざるを得ない; polite: 〜ざるを得ません

Use 〜ざるを得ない when circumstances force you into an action you would rather avoid. The speaker isn't choosing freely: they are giving in, with reluctance or resignation. With verbs of judging, such as 認める, 言う or 疑う, it means the facts leave you no option but to reach that conclusion, often a critical one. It is fairly formal and appears in newspapers, business writing and serious speech. In casual conversation people prefer 〜しかない or 〜なきゃいけない. The verb is a deliberate action by the subject, so don't use it for things you are happy to do, or for uncontrollable feelings. Despite the common gloss 'cannot help doing', it is not 〜ずにはいられない, which describes an emotional impulse you can't hold back (笑わずにはいられない, 'I can't stop myself laughing'). 〜しかない and 〜よりほかない also mean 'have no choice', but they focus on there being only one option, without the same sense of being pushed against your will. 〜を余儀なくされる is more formal still and describes being forced from outside. 〜と言わざるを得ない is the fixed phrase for a reluctant critical verdict.

Variants: 〜ざるをえない、〜ざるを得なかった、〜ざるを得ません、せざるを得ない

Examples

• 台風が接近しているため、大会は中止せざるを得ない。
  With a typhoon approaching, we have no choice but to cancel the tournament.
• これだけ証拠がそろえば、彼も罪を認めざるを得ないだろう。
  With this much evidence, even he will have to admit his guilt.
• 体調を崩し、楽しみにしていた旅行をあきらめざるを得なかった。
  I fell ill and had no choice but to give up the trip I'd been looking forward to.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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