Components

Grammar detail: やむを得ない(やむをえない)

やむを得ない(やむをえない)  can't stop doing
80 words
My current mastery of this grammar point:
LOG IN to view grammar mastery data
Grammar games:
GRAMMAR MATCH
SENTENCE BUILDER
BOOST
やむを得ない
is a set expression meaning
can't stop doing (something), can't help doing (something)
It is commonly used on its own to mean 'can't be helped' or 'due to unavoidable circumstances' etc.
それやむを
ない

I can't help it.
It can follow a phrase marked by the topic marker indicating the 'something' which can't be helped':
かのじょ
彼女
すこ
あいまいな
たいど
態度
だったやむをえなかった
She couldn't help but be a little vague.
やむを得ない functions as an adjective, so it can modify a clause which comes next:
われわれ
我々
やむを
ない
じじょう
事情
その
かいごう
会合
えんき
延期
した

Circumstances forced us to put off the meeting.
Several variants of this form may be encountered, for example: やむを得ず, 止むを得ない.
Please LOG IN for free flashcards

Kanji used in this grammar

トク    profit   え    う to acquire   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シ   とめる to stop   とまる to stop   
ヒ   かれ he   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
ショウ   すこ a little   すくない few   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
タイ    condition, appearance   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ド   ト   タク   degree   たび occasion, time   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ガ   I; myself   われ    わが-    
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
(kanji repetition symbol)   
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
ジョウ   セイ   なさ emotion; circumstances   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カイ   エ   あ to meet   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あ to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
エン   のばす to prolong, lengthen   のびる to be delayed, postponed   のべる to postpone   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キ   ゴ    period of time   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
Problem with this grammar? Question or comment? Please CONTACT US.
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language. To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard. You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly. For an overview, take the tour.
×