Meaning
Expresses the speaker's strong conviction that a situation is impossible.
Formation
- Modifying form + はずがない: するはずがありません, Nの + はずがない
- Stronger than ないでしょう: the speaker rules it out
When to use it
- Core use
- There is no way it is so
Examples
20 sentences-
彼がそんなことをするはずがありません
There is no way he would do such a thing.
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この鍵で開くはずがない
There is no way this will open with this key.
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冷蔵庫に入れたケーキを猫が食べるはずがありません
There is no way the cat ate the cake in the refrigerator.
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まだ六時だから店が閉まっているはずがない
It is only six, so there is no way the store is closed.
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あんな小さなかばんに全部入るはずがありません
There is no way everything will fit in such a small bag.
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毎日練習している彼が負けるはずがない
He practices every day, so there is no way he will lose.
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財布は机の上に置いたからなくなるはずがありません
I put my wallet on the desk, so there is no way it disappeared.
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この静かな湖に大きな波があるはずがない
There cannot be large waves on this calm lake.
12 more examples
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田中さんが約束を忘れるはずがありません
There is no way Mr. Tanaka would forget his promise.
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こんなに星がきれいな夜に雨が降るはずがない
There is no way it will rain on such a clear, starry night.
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明後日は雨のはずがありません
There is no way that it will rain the day after tomorrow.
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この部屋は静かなはずがありません
There is no way that this room is quiet.
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この道は安全なはずがありません
There is no way that this road is safe.
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彼はもう家に帰ったはずがありません
There is no way that he has already gone home.
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今度の試験は難しいはずがありません
There is no way that the coming exam will be difficult.
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その荷物は重いはずがありません
There is no way that that luggage is heavy.
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電車は五時に着くはずがありません
There is no way that the train will arrive at five.
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田中さんは今日来ないはずがありません
There is no way that Mr. Tanaka will not come today.
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その店は休みのはずがありません
There is no way that that shop is closed for the day.
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新しい先生は親切なはずがありません
There is no way that the new teacher is kind.
Important notes
- はずがない rejects a possibility as contrary to the speaker's reasoning.
Common mistakes
- It expresses a judgment, not a neutral inability: 行けない need not mean 行くはずがない.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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