N1 Completion and Continuation

~たためしがない: meaning, usage and examples

Q: What does ~たためしがない mean?

Have never... / has never happened that.... Example: 彼が約束を守ったためしがない。 (He has never kept a promise.)

~たためしがない means: have never... / has never happened that...

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

How to form it

＜Verb た-form＞ + ためしがない

Examples

彼かれが約束やくそくを守まもったためしがない。
He has never kept a promise.
安やすいからと買かった傘かさが、長持ながもちしたためしがない。
The umbrellas I buy just because they are cheap have never once lasted.
兄あにが約束やくそくの時間じかんに間まに合あったためしがない。
My older brother has never once been on time for an appointment.
宝たからくじを何なん度ども買かっているが、当あたったためしがない。
I've bought lottery tickets many times, but I've never won once.

When to use it

Means "has never once," based on past experience, and usually expresses frustration or criticism: 「彼かれが時間じかん通どおりに来きたためしがない」. The speaker suggests it will not happen this time either. The verb is always in the た-form, describing past experience.

Nuance

Conversational, and almost always critical or exasperated. It is used for something expected that never happens: being on time, keeping promises, a forecast being right. Using it for good news sounds odd.

Compare

たことがない is a neutral statement of experience: 富士山ふじさんに登のぼったことがない. ためしがない adds complaint: 約束やくそくを守まもったためしがない (he never once keeps a promise). 一度いちども〜ない is neutral emphasis without the critical tone: 一度いちども休やすんだことがない (never missed a day, said with pride).

Tip: Use it when you would sigh and say "not once." If you are not complaining, use たことがない instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does ~たためしがない mean?

Have never... / has never happened that.... Example: 彼かれが約束やくそくを守まもったためしがない。 (He has never kept a promise.)

How do you form ~たためしがない?

＜Verb た-form＞ + ためしがない. Use it when you would sigh and say "not once." If you are not complaining, use たことがない instead.