JLPT N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜てもしかたがない/しょうがない” and “〜ても始まらない”
Table of Contents
1. The difference between “〜てもしかたがない/しょうがない” and “〜ても始まらない”
2. 〜てもしかたがない/しょうがない
3. 〜ても始まらない
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments
Q: What is the difference between “〜てもしかたがない/しょうがない” and “〜ても始まらない”?
A: Both expressions are used in situations where doing something will not improve the situation, so they can seem quite similar.
However, the difference lies in what the speaker is focusing on.
“〜てもしかたがない／しょうがない” is used when accepting something that cannot be changed or something that is pointless to do.
On the other hand, “〜ても始まらない” is used when continuing to do something will not move the situation forward.
Let’s take a closer look at the difference.
〜てもしかたがない／しょうがない (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
① There is nothing you can do even if you do ~
② There is no point in doing ~ / It is useless to do ~
③ To accept an undesirable situation because it cannot be changed
[Rules]
[V] Verb て form + も + しかたがない／しょうがない
[A] い adjectiveて form + も + しかたがない／しょうがない
[Na] な adjectiveて form + も + しかたがない／しょうがない
*In spoken Japanese, “〜ても” with verbs often becomes “〜たって”.
[Commonly Used Words]
Adverbs: どんなに (no matter how), いくら (how much)
Verbs: 考える (to think), 悩む (to worry), 後悔する (to regret), 泣く (to cry), がんばる (to do one’s best), 心配する (to worry), etc.
[Examples]
悩んでもしかたがないよ。とりあえずやってみよう。
There’s no point in worrying. Let’s just give it a try.
⇒ Even if you keep worrying, nothing will change, so the speaker is suggesting that you stop worrying.
いつまでも泣いてたってしょうがないよ。元気出して。
There’s no use crying forever. Cheer up.
⇒ Continuing to cry will not change the situation.
このアパートは家賃が安いから、少しくらい不便でもしょうがないね。
The rent is cheap, so I guess we have to accept some inconvenience.
⇒The speaker accepts the inconvenience in exchange for the low rent.
The key point is that this expression is used when you accept something that cannot be changed or judge that doing something would be pointless.
[Examples]
いくら心配してもしかたがないよ。結果が出るまで待とう。
There’s no point in worrying. Let’s wait until we get the results.
⇒ Worrying will not change the result, so the speaker is suggesting that you stop worrying.
このホテルは値段が安いから、駅から少しくらい遠くてもしょうがないね。
This hotel is cheap, so I guess we have to accept that it’s a little far from the station.
⇒ The speaker is not happy that the hotel is far from the station, but accepts it because the price is low.
In this way, “〜てもしかたがない／しょうがない” can carry nuances of resignation, acceptance, or compromise.
〜ても始まらない (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
～ Doing ~ will not move things forward
～ Doing ~ will not lead to a solution
[Rules]
[V] Verb て formも + 始まらない
*In spoken Japanese, “〜ても” with verbs often becomes “〜たって”.
[Commonly Used Words]
Adverbs: どんなに (no matter how), いくら (how much)
Verbs: 考える (to think), 悩む (to worry), 心配する (to worry), 待つ (to wait)
[Examples]
ここでずっと同じことを考えていても始まらないよ。
Thinking about the same thing forever won’t get us anywhere.
⇒ Continuing to think about it will not move the situation forward.
文句ばかり言っても始まらない！自分たちで変えていこう。
Complaining all the time won’t get us anywhere. Let’s change things ourselves.
⇒ Simply complaining will not solve the problem, so action needs to be taken.
今さら後悔しても始まらないし、次のことを考えよう。
There’s no point regretting it now. Let’s think about what to do next.
⇒ Regretting it will not change the past, so the speaker is suggesting moving on to the next step.
じっとしていても何も始まらないよ。
Nothing will happen if you just sit there.
⇒ If you do not take action, the situation will not change.
The key point is that continuing what you are doing will not move the situation forward.
For this reason, it is often followed by expressions that encourage the next action, such as:
“Let’s just try it.”
“Let’s think of another way.”
“Let’s take action.”
[Examples]
そんなに考えていても始まらないし、とりあえずやってみようよ。
Thinking about it so much won’t get us anywhere, so let’s just give it a try.
⇒ Continuing to think about it will not move the situation forward, so the speaker is suggesting taking action instead.
ここで待っていても始まらない。こっちから連絡してみよう。
Waiting here won’t get us anywhere. Let’s contact them ourselves.
⇒ Simply waiting will not change the situation, so the speaker is suggesting taking a different action.
Let’s Compare
Depending on the sentence, either expression can be used.
[Examples]
あまり悩んでもしかたがないよ。とりあえずやってみよう。
Worrying too much won’t help. Let’s just give it a try.
そんなに悩んでも始まらないよ。とりあえずやってみよう。
Fretting over it won’t get us anywhere. Let’s just give it a try.
Both are natural, but there is a slight difference in nuance.
悩んでもしかたがない
→ Worrying will not change anything, so there is no point in continuing to worry.
悩んでも始まらない
→ Simply worrying will not move things forward, so it is better to take action.
In other words:
しかたがない → accept the situation / stop doing something pointless
始まらない → move forward / take the next action
[When “〜ても始まらない“ is more natural]
When you want to strongly express the idea that “the current situation will not move forward, so we need to take action,” “〜ても始まらない” is more natural.
[Examples]
〇ここで待っていても始まらない！今すぐ行動をしよう！
Waiting here won’t get us anywhere! Let’s take action now!
⇒ Simply waiting will not move things forward, so the speaker is encouraging action.
△ ここで待っていてもしかたがない！今すぐ行動をしよう！
Waiting here won’t help! Let’s take action now!
⇒ This sentence is not incorrect either.
However, “待っていてもしかたがない” focuses more on the judgment that “there is no point in waiting.”
On the other hand, “待っていても始まらない” places more emphasis on the idea that “simply waiting will not move things forward, so we should do something.”
It therefore has a stronger sense of moving on to the next action.
[When “〜てもしかたがない” is more natural]
“〜てもしかたがない／しょうがない” is more natural when accepting or compromising with a situation that cannot be changed.
[Examples]
どんなに泣いてもしかたがない。過去は変えられないんだ。
No matter how much you cry, it’s useless. The past can’t be changed.
⇒ Crying cannot change the past, so the speaker is accepting that fact.
この仕事は大変でもしょうがないね。その分、給料がいいんだから。
This job is tough, but that’s to be expected. The salary is too good.
⇒ The job being demanding is not ideal, but the speaker accepts it because the salary is high.
In sentences like these, “〜ても始まらない” cannot be used as a replacement.
Summary
[てもしかたがない／しょうがない]
- Expresses that doing something is pointless or will not help.
- Expresses acceptance of a situation that cannot be changed.
- Can carry nuances of resignation, acceptance, or compromise.
[ても始まらない]
- Expresses that continuing an action will not move the situation forward.
- Expresses that an action will not lead to solving the problem or making progress.
- Is often used in situations where the speaker encourages taking the next action.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. しかたがない
冷蔵庫が壊れていたから、飲み物がぬるくなってもしかたがないね。
The refrigerator was broken, so it can’t be helped if the drinks got warm.
*”ぬるい” is an い adjective. Since “〜ても始まらない” is basically used with verbs, “しかたがない” is appropriate here. The speaker is also accepting the fact that the drinks became warm because the refrigerator was broken.
A. 始まらない
ずっと彼の返事を待っていても始まらないし、自分から聞いたらどうですか。
Waiting endlessly for his reply won’t get you anywhere. Why don’t you ask him yourself?
*Simply continuing to wait will not move the situation forward, so “始まらない” is appropriate. The sentence also suggests the next action: asking him directly.
A. しかたがない
後悔してもしかたがない。今回はあきらめよう。
There’s no point in regretting it. Let’s give up on it this time.
*Regretting it cannot change the outcome, so “しかたがない” is appropriate. Here, the speaker is accepting a situation that cannot be changed and deciding to give up on it.
A. 始まらない
心配ばかりしても始まらない。やっぱり留学しよう。
Worrying about it won’t get me anywhere. I’m going to study abroad after all.
*Continuing to worry will not move the situation forward, so “始まらない” is appropriate. Instead of just worrying, the speaker is deciding to move forward by taking the next step: studying abroad.
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