N1 Inevitability and Necessity

~術すべがない: meaning, usage and examples

~術すべがない means: have no way to... / cannot...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 一度壊いちどこわれたら、直なおす術すべがない。

   Once it's broken, there's no way to fix it.

2. 台風たいふうが来きたら、待まつ以外いがいに術すべがない。

   When a typhoon comes, there is nothing to do but wait.

3. 通信つうしんが途絶とだえて、外そとの様子ようすを知しる術すべがなかった。

   Communications were cut off, so there was no way to find out what was happening outside.

4. 証拠しょうこが残のこっていない以上いじょう、知しる術すべはない。

   With no evidence left, there is no way to know the truth.

When to use it

Means having no way or means to do something: "there is no way to," "be helpless to." Example: 「連絡れんらく先さきがわからず、知しらせる術すべがない」. 術すべ is an old word for "method." Also seen as なす術すべもなく (helplessly). It is most often used about situations beyond a person's control.

Nuance

Formal and literary, common in news, novels and serious writing. It often expresses helplessness or resignation. 術すべもない is more emotional: 「なす術すべもなく見守みまもるしかなかった」. In casual speech, people say 方法ほうほうがない or しようがない instead.

Compare

方法ほうほうがない is the plain, everyday equivalent: 連絡れんらくする方法ほうほうがない. しかない means "the only thing is to": 待まつしかない. 術すべがない is the formal, literary version of 方法ほうほうがない, often with a sense of helplessness.

Tip: Read 術すべ as すべ here, not じゅつ. Learn the set phrase なす術すべもなく ("helplessly"), which appears often in news and tests.