Grammar › N2 · 13 Obligation and permission

〜ほかない: have no choice but to

N2 · 13 Obligation and permission

Says there is no other way than to do this.

Verb dictionary form + ほかない (also ほかはない, 〜よりほかない). Used when a problem leaves only one option. Compare 〜しかない, which is the everyday form, and 〜ざるを得ない, which is formal.

Examples

バスがないので、歩あるいて帰かえるほかない。

There is no bus, so I have no choice but to walk home.

こうなったら、最後さいごまで頑張がんばるほかありません。

Now that it has come to this, all we can do is do our best until the end.

Study 〜ほかない in the course →