N2 Results, Change, and Progress

~かいあって/~かいもなく: meaning, usage and examples

~かいあって/~かいもなく means: thanks to... / it was worth... / in vain.

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

Examples

1. 努力どりょくのかいあって、合格ごうかくできた。

   Thanks to my efforts, I was able to pass.

2. 説得せっとくのかいもなく、拒否きょひされた。

   My persuasion was in vain; I was refused.

3. 毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうしたかいあって、試合しあいに勝かつことができた。

   My daily practice paid off, and I was able to win the match.

4. 必死ひっしに探さがしたかいもなく、財布さいふは見みつからなかった。

   Despite searching desperately, I never found my wallet.

When to use it

かい (甲斐かい) means "worth" or "reward." かいあって says that an effort paid off and brought a good result: 練習れんしゅうしたかいあって、優勝ゆうしょうできた ("my practice paid off and I won"). かいもなく says that an effort was wasted and the hoped-for result did not come: 看病かんびょうのかいもなく ("despite all the care").

Nuance

Neutral to slightly formal. かいあって expresses satisfaction; かいもなく expresses disappointment or sadness. The first part must be a real effort or action aimed at a goal, and the second clause is a past result.

Compare

おかげで credits help from a person or thing: 先生せんせいのおかげで合格ごうかくした. かいあって credits the speaker's own effort: 勉強べんきょうしたかいあって合格ごうかくした. にもかかわらず is a general "despite"; かいもなく stresses that a real effort was wasted: 練習れんしゅうのかいもなく負まけた.

Tip: Remember the related phrase やりがい ("a sense of reward"). かい is the reward: with it you succeed (あって), without it you fail (もなく).