はずがない
🃏 Flashcard
はずがない
hazu ga nai
Tap to reveal usage
cannot be (impossible)
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
hazu ga nai
Post ID
50701
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
cannot be (impossible)
📖 How to use it
Expresses strong logical impossibility, 'there is no way that...'
Attaches to
Attach to the plain present/past form of verbs (dictionary form or た-form), or to nouns and な-adjectives followed by である (e.g., 学生である). For い-adjectives, use the plain form (e.g., 高い).
This pattern conveys that based on evidence or logic, something cannot possibly be true. It's stronger than just saying 'probably not'—it's more like 'there's no way.' For example, if someone says he studies all day, you might say あの人が勉強をしないはずがない 'There's no way he doesn't study.'
Use it when you are certain that a situation is impossible because of known facts. It is common in both speech and writing, but in casual conversation you might hear はずない (without が). However, the full form is perfectly natural.
Note that はず comes from the noun meaning 'expectation' or 'reason', so はずがない literally means 'there is no reason/expectation that...'.
あの人が嘘をつくはずがない。
Ano hito ga uso o tsuku hazu ga nai.
There's no way that person would lie.
毎日練習したんだから、上手にならないはずがない。
Mainichi renshuu shita n da kara, jouzu ni naranai hazu ga nai.
Since I practiced every day, there's no way I haven't gotten better.
彼は日本人であるはずがない。彼の日本語は下手だ。
Kare wa nihonjin de aru hazu ga nai. Kare no nihongo wa heta da.
There's no way he's Japanese. His Japanese is poor.
Not はずはない (hazu wa nai)
Both mean 'it cannot be that', but はずがない is more emphatic and common. はずはない is slightly milder and often used when you hope something isn't true but have doubts, e.g., 彼が来るはずはない 'He probably won't come (but I'm not 100% sure).'
Register
Neutral in register; used in both spoken and written Japanese, though in casual speech が is often omitted.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
はずがない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat はずがない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using はずがない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern はずがない mean?
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Cannot be (impossible)
What JLPT level is はずがない?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use はずがない in a sentence?
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Attach はずがない (hazu ga nai) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is はずがない formal or casual Japanese?
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はずがない is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember はずがない long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.