Grammar › N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

〜すべがない: no means of doing

N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

Says there is no way or method to do something, even though you want to.

Dictionary form of a verb + すべがない (すべ = way, means). Written and slightly poetic, often about regret: 知るすべがない, 伝えるすべがない. Compare 〜ようがない, which is plainer and more common in speech.

Examples

連絡先れんらくさきがわからず、彼女かのじょに感謝かんしゃを伝つたえるすべがなかった。

I did not know her contact details, so I had no way to tell her thanks.

電気でんきも通信つうしんも止とまり、外そとの状況じょうきょうを知しるすべがない。

Power and communications are down, and there is no way to find out what is happening outside.

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