Out of the question: 〜べくもない
Verb (dictionary) + べくもない
V (dictionary) + べくもない: “no way to, out of the question”. With a few verbs: 望む, 知る, 比べる, 疑う. Written register.
In short
〜べくもない means “there's no way to, it's out of the question”: the thing is impossible by its nature or because of the circumstances. The expression is used with a small number of verbs: 望むべくもない (not to be hoped for), 知るべくもない (impossible to know), 比べるべくもない (beyond comparison), 疑うべくもない (undeniable). Written register.
- 今の給料では、マイホームなど望むべくもない。いまのきゅうりょうでは、まいほーむなどのぞむべくもない。On my current salary, a home of my own is out of the question.
- 彼の実力は、私などとは比べるべくもない。かれのじつりょくは、わたしなどとはくらべるべくもない。His ability is in a different league from mine.
- 事件の真相は、今となっては知るべくもない。じけんのしんそうは、いまとなってはしるべくもない。The truth about the incident — there's no way of knowing it now.
The basics
べく is the adverbial form of べし (“so as to be able to”). So 〜べくもない says “there's not even a way to”: the idea is ruled out from the start; it isn't a question of effort — English “there's no hope of”, “not by any stretch”.
The tone is often resigned or admiring: you acknowledge a limit (望むべくもない) or an overwhelming superiority (比べるべくもない).
On my current salary, a home of my own is out of the question.
- other
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- そのような名誉は、私には望むべくもない。そのようなめいよは、わたしにはのぞむべくもない。Such an honour is more than I could ever hope for.
How to form it
Dictionary form + べくもない. In the past: べくもなかった. The compatible verbs are few; learn them as expressions.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 望むべくもない | not to be hoped for, out of reach |
| 知るべくもない | impossible to know |
| 比べるべくもない | beyond comparison, in a different league |
| 疑うべくもない | undeniable, beyond doubt |
| 確かめるべくもない | impossible to verify |
- 彼が犯人であることは、疑うべくもない事実だ。かれがはんにんであることは、うたがうべくもないじじつだ。That he's the culprit is an undeniable fact.
- 亡くなった祖父の気持ちは、もう確かめるべくもない。なくなったそふのきもちは、もうたしかめるべくもない。What my late grandfather felt — there's no longer any way to find out.
べくもない, ようがない, はずがない, わけがない
〜ようがない (N2) says there's no method (連絡のしようがない); it's used with almost any verb. 〜はずがない is a logical impossibility (“it can't be”), and 〜わけがない its blunt spoken equivalent. 〜べくもない is written and limited to a few verbs, with a note of resignation.
| Sentence | Nuance |
|---|---|
| 連絡のしようがない | no practical way to get in touch |
| 彼が知っているはずがない | he can't possibly know (logic) |
| そんなこと、できるわけがない | as if that were possible! (spoken) |
| 真相は知るべくもない | the truth is forever beyond reach (written) |
- あんなに優しい彼が、そんなことを言うはずがない。あんなにやさしいかれが、そんなことをいうはずがない。Someone as kind as him couldn't possibly have said such a thing. (はずがない, logic)
- 電話番号がわからないので、連絡のしようがない。でんわばんごうがわからないので、れんらくのしようがない。I don't have his number, so I've no way of reaching him.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with 〜べく (“in order to”): 知るべく = “in order to know”, 知るべくもない = “no way of knowing”.
- Applying it to any verb: “食べるべくもない” sounds wrong; prefer 食べられるはずがない or 食べようがない.
- Reading a prohibition into it: it's an impossibility, not a “must not” (which would be べからず).
8 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Hokkaidō Line (Classical and formal language) of the Shinkansen.