There is no other way; nothing can be done; expresses resignation that one must accept the situation.
電車が止まってしまったから、遅刻するのは仕方がない。
The train stopped, so it's unavoidable that I'll be late.
台風でフェリーが欠航になったので、帰省をあきらめるしかなく、仕方がない。
The ferry was canceled because of the typhoon, so I had no choice but to give up going home — it can't be helped.
品質に問題があるなら返品するしかない。仕方がない判断だ。
If there's a quality problem, we have no choice but to return it. It's an unavoidable decision.
Cannot be helped; unavoidable; used like 'しょうがない' to express resignation or sympathy toward circumstances beyond control.
子どもが病気なら、学校を休ませるしかない。仕方がないことだ。
If the child is sick, you have to let them miss school. It can't be helped.
天候不良で試合が中止になったのは仕方がない。
The match being canceled due to bad weather can't be helped.
法律で禁止されているならやめるしかなく、仕方がないね。
If it's banned by law, we have no choice but to stop — it can't be helped.
It's no use (doing); pointless or futile. Often appears as '〜ても仕方がない'.
今さら謝っても仕方がないから、次から気をつけよう。
It's pointless to apologize now, so let's be careful from next time.
もう締切を過ぎているので、急いでも仕方がない。
The deadline has already passed, so hurrying won't help.
過去を変えることはできない。悔やんでも仕方がない。
You can't change the past. It's no use regretting it.
Used to describe someone or something as hopeless, annoying, or troublesome — a negative evaluation implying 'no use dealing with them.'
彼は時間にルーズで、もう仕方がない人だ。
He's so lax about time; he's really a hopeless person.
あの上司は理不尽で、仕事がやりにくくて仕方がない。
That boss is unreasonable — it's really annoying and makes work difficult.
Cannot stand it; unbearably/strongly feeling something — often used in forms like '〜て仕方がない' or '〜で仕方がない' to mean 'cannot help (doing/feeling)' or 'I'm dying to (do)'.
彼女に会いたくて仕方がない。
I can't help wanting to see her / I'm dying to see her.
虫が苦手で、気持ち悪くて仕方がない。
I'm so bothered by insects — I feel sick and can't stand it.
試験前で緊張して仕方がない。
I'm unbearably nervous before the exam.