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There is not enough electricity to carry on as before. The situation leaves no choice but to consider other options.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N2 · Intermediate 3

〜ざるを得ない~zaru o enai

have no choice but to

Use 「〜ざるを得ない」 for having to act because circumstances leave no choice.

How it works

  1. There is not enough electricity to carry on as before. The situation leaves no choice but to consider other options.

    There is not enough electricity to carry on as before. The situation leaves no choice but to consider other options.

  2. Remove ない from the verb’s ない-form and add ざるを得ない. This means there is no other choice.

    Remove ない from the verb’s ない-form and add ざるを得ない. This means there is no other choice.

  3. する is an exception: it becomes せざるを得ない. You cannot simply replace ない in しない.

    する is an exception: it becomes せざるを得ない. You cannot simply replace ない in しない.

  4. Often used in more formal explanations, it means having to act because of the circumstances, even unwillingly.

    Often used in more formal explanations, it means having to act because of the circumstances, even unwillingly.

  5. 得ません in the example does not mean “we do not call for power saving.” The power plant shutdown leaves no choice but to call for it.

    得ません in the example does not mean “we do not call for power saving.” The power plant shutdown leaves no choice but to call for it.

Example sentences

  • 再生さいせいsaisei可能かのうkanouエネルギーえねるぎーenerugiiだけdakeでde十分に供給じゅうぶんにきょうきゅうjuubunnikyoukyuuできないなら、dekinainara、他たtaのno方法ほうほうhouhouもmo考えざるかんがえざるkangaezaruをo得ません。えません。emasen。

    If we cannot supply enough energy with renewable energy alone, we have no choice but to consider other methods.

  • 災害さいがいsaigaiでde発電所はつでんしょhatsudenshoがga止まった場合、とまったばあい、tomattabaai、節電せつでんsetsudenをo呼びよびyobiかけざるkakezaruをo得ません。えません。emasen。

In a conversation

  • A
    今年ことしの夏なつはわ電力でんりょく需要じゅようが非常に高くひじょうにたかくなりそうですね。

    A: It seems that electricity demand will be very high this summer, doesn't it?

  • B
    ええ、電力でんりょくの安定あんてい供給きょうきゅうができない場合できないばあいは、わ、一部いちぶの発電所はつでんしょの稼働かどうを増やすふやすなどの対応たいおうをせざるを得ません。えません。

    B: Yes, if we cannot supply power stably, we will have no choice but to take measures such as increasing the operation of some power plants.

  • A
    自然しぜん環境かんきょうへえの環境かんきょう負荷ふかも考えるかんがえると、難しいむずかしい問題もんだいですね。

    A: Considering the environmental impact on the natural environment, it is indeed a difficult issue.

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    If we cannot supply enough power with renewable energy alone, we have no choice but to consider other methods.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    再生可能エネルギーだけで十分に供給できないなら、他の方法も考え____。

    If renewable energy alone cannot supply enough, we have no choice but to consider other methods.

More grammar in this theme

  • 〜といえばspeaking of; typical association
  • 〜というとtopic association
  • 〜べきだ／〜べきではないshould / should not
  • 〜ほど〜はないnothing is as … as
  • 〜（より）ほかない／〜（より）ほかしかたがないhave no other choice
  • 〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだunchanged since then
  • 〜最中にright in the middle of
  • 〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かけるstarted but unfinished
  • 〜ざるを得ないhave no choice but to
  • 〜を契機にas a trigger for change
  • 〜をめぐってconcerning an issue
  • 〜上のrelated to an aspect
  • 〜上from a certain perspective
Previous〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かけるNext〜を契機に

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Intermediate 3
Science, Technology, and Society

If power plants shut down due to a disaster, we will have no choice but to call for power saving.