どうにもない (dounimonai)

Meaning & usage

どうにも～ない expresses that no effort or method can change a situation, with a sense of resignation or frustration. It appears as どうにも plus a verb in its ない form, as in 動かない or ならない, including adverb plus verb combinations like 良くならない. It is common in spoken and written Japanese to describe breakdowns, illness, or hopeless situations, and it always requires a negative predicate to complete the meaning.

Example sentences 6

1. 今いまさら騒さわいでもどうにもならないよ。後あとの祭まつりだよ。

   Yelling about it won't help now. You should have done that when it counted.

2. 車がどうにも動かない。

   My car won't start.

3. この風邪はどうにも良くならない。

   I can't get rid of this cold.

4. 彼の計画はどうにもならない。

   Nothing will come of his plans.

5. このドアはどうにも閉まらない。

   This door won't shut.

6. 済んでしまったことをああだこうだ言ってもどうにもならないだろう。

   You can critique it all you want and it won't change a thing. It's over.