0

From what I've been seeing, the two have somewhat similar meanings when used as interjections.

1 Answer 1

2

どうにもならない (not どうにかならない) and 仕方がない are similar like you say.

どうにもならない is however reserved for significant things as it conveys irreversibility. E.g. the following is fine:

電気消すの忘れた
仕方がないな

The following is odd because surely it's easy to go back and just switch it off.

電気消すの忘れた
どうにもならないな

The following is thus natural again:

あー、家出る時電気消すの忘れた!もう飛行機あと5分で出るのに
どうにもならないな

Because the situation is irreversible.

Similarly, the following is natural:

ごめん、名札書くときちょっと字汚くなっちゃった
仕方ないな

But the following is almost provocational:

ごめん、書くときちょっと字汚くなっちゃった
どうにもならないな

(Because "Why is this person accusing me of some irreversible mistake, when it just looks slightly bad?")

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .