Posted inN4 Grammar

Learning Japanese Grammar: はずがない (hazu ga nai) – “There’s No Way!” (JLPT N4)

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

cannot be, it’s impossible that, there’s no way that

🎯 Primary Function

To express strong conviction or certainty that something is not true or will not happen, based on logical reasoning or evidence.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (plain form)] + はずがない [い-adjective (plain form)] + はずがない [な-adjective (drop な)] + な + はずがない [Noun] + の + はずがない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal discussions or writing when connecting to a formal plain form (like past tense). However, the expression itself is quite direct.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in everyday conversation to express strong disbelief or denial.

✍️ Written Language

Used in articles, essays, or dialogue in novels to express logical denial.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used in conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Denying a possibility
Used when you have evidence or reason to believe something couldn’t happen or isn’t true.
Example: あんなに練習したんだから、失敗するはずがない。(An’nani renshuu shitan dakara, shippai suru hazu ga nai.) – Since they practiced so much, there’s no way they will fail.
Expressing disbelief about a statement
Used to refute a claim by stating that based on your knowledge or logic, it cannot be true.
Example: 彼がそんなひどいことを言うはずがない。(Kare ga sonna hidoi koto o iu hazu ga nai.) – There’s no way he would say such a terrible thing.
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Example: undefined
📊
Frequency
Moderate to High frequency, especially in spoken Japanese when expressing strong opinions or denials.
🎚️
Difficulty
N4
Example Sentences
彼が遅れるはずがない。いつも時間通りに来るから。
There’s no way he’ll be late. He always comes on time.
昨日寝てないから、疲れてないはずがない。
Since I didn’t sleep yesterday, there’s no way I’m not tired. (Meaning: I must be tired.)
そんな簡単な問題が分からないはずがない。
There’s no way I wouldn’t understand such an easy problem.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Connects to plain form
Always use the plain form (辞書形, た形, ない形) for verbs and い-adjectives. Drop the な for な-adjectives and add な. Add の for nouns.
Example: 間違い: 食べますはずがない -> 正しい: 食べるはずがない
Expresses certainty based on reason
はずがない implies you have grounds to believe something is impossible or shouldn’t happen.
Example: 鍵を持っていたから、家に入れないはずがない。(Kagi o motte ita kara, ie ni haireru hazu ga nai.) – Because I had the key, there’s no way I can’t get into the house.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using masu/desu forms
✅ 彼は来るはずがない。
はずがない follows plain forms.
❌ Incorrect connection for な-adjectives or Nouns
✅ 彼は親切なはずがない。/ 学生のはずがない。
Remember the な and の connections.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Can sound quite strong or assertive. While not inherently rude, the directness might require context.
Social Situations: Common among friends, family, or colleagues when expressing strong confidence in a statement or denial.
Regional Variations: Core meaning is standard across regions, but surrounding particles or intonation might vary.

🔍 Subtle Differences

はずがない vs. わけがない
はずがない often implies a conclusion based on expectation or normal circumstances (“it shouldn’t happen”). わけがない implies a conclusion based on logic or fact (“it cannot be”). The difference is often subtle and they are frequently interchangeable.
When to use: はずがない for impossibility based on expectation/likelihood; わけがない for impossibility based on logical reason/fact. Often interchangeable.
はずがない vs. ではない
はずがない expresses strong conviction about something not being true/possible. ではない is a simple negation of a statement.
When to use: はずがない when expressing certainty of impossibility; ではない for simple negation.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

はずがない itself does not conjugate. The conjugation happens on the preceding verb or adjective in its plain form.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “hazu ga nai”. The が particle is pronounced clearly.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of はず (hazu) as “expectation” or “likelihood”. So, 「～はずがない」 means “there is no expectation/likelihood [that it is true or will happen]”.

Practice Exercises
彼は全然勉強していないから、JLPT N4に合格する＿＿＿＿。
はずだ
はずがない
はずだった
はずだろう
この店はいつも混んでいる。今日は空いている＿＿＿＿。
はずだ
はずがない
はずだった
はずだろう
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