JLPTMainichi JLPT
English
JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

てもしょうがない / てもしかたがない (temo shou ga nai / temo shikata ga nai)

~てもしょうがない/~てもしかたがない — “no use ~ing”

In short · Verb te-form + も + しょうがない / しかたがない means “even if you do ~, there is nothing to be gained; it's pointless.” It is used to accept something that cannot be changed, or to tell oneself or others to stop dwelling on it.
A free study page from Mainichi JLPT — the app has 429+ grammar points, plus vocabulary and mock exams.See the app

Pattern

  • 動詞て形 + も + しょうがない/しかたがない te-form + も + しょうがない / しかたがない (心配してもしょうがない)

Meaning and connection

しょうがない and しかたがない both mean “there's no way / no use.” After ても they say that the action does not help. 心配してもしょうがない. The two are almost the same; しょうがない is a little more spoken.

Typical situations

Worrying, getting angry, regretting, or complaining about something already done: 終わったことを怒ってもしかたがない. It often leads to a sensible next step, such as consulting a friend.

Difference from ~てしょうがない

~ても cannot be confused with ~て: 痛くてしょうがない (it hurts so much) is a strong feeling, while 心配してもしょうがない (no use worrying) says it is pointless. Check whether there is も.

Examples

  • そんなに心配(しんぱい)してもしょうがない。

    Sonna ni shinpai shite mo shō ga nai.

    There's no use worrying so much.

  • 終(お)わったことを怒(おこ)ってもしかたがない。

    Owatta koto o okotte mo shikata ga nai.

    There's no point getting angry about something that's over.

  • 一人(ひとり)で悩(なや)んでいてもしょうがないから、友(とも)だちに相談(そうだん)した。

    Hitori de nayande ite mo shō ga nai kara, tomodachi ni sōdan shita.

    Since worrying alone was pointless, I consulted a friend.

Common mistakes

  • Do not drop も. ~てしょうがない without も means “unbearably ~,” a different meaning.
  • It can sound cold if said to someone who is upset. Use it gently.

More grammar points

Practice this in the app

Mainichi JLPT turns these grammar points into daily quizzes and a readiness gauge — 100% free, no sign-up.

See the app