〜べくもない (~beku mo nai) — there's no way one could ~
'Out of the question — simply impossible in that situation': a stiff, written form.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- If you are looking for work at a small shop in the countryside, you can't even hope for a Tokyo-level salary: 「都会並みの給料は望むべくもない」.
- It sounds stiff, written and a little literary.
Meaning
「〜べくもない」= looking at the situation, 'that is naturally impossible — no point even thinking about it'.
How to attach
- Dictionary form + 「べくもない」
- With 「する」: 「するべくもない」or 「すべくもない」: 否定すべくもない
- Mostly only a few mind-related verbs: 望む・知る・比べる・疑う・否定する
Versus what you know
- N2It is close to 「〜ようがない」(no way to) and 「〜得ない」(can't possibly), but stiffer.
- Don't confuse it with the 「〜べく」(in order to) of lesson 9 — once 「も」and 「ない」are added, the meaning becomes 'impossible'.
Watch out
It is not for 'I won't' by your own choice; only for things the situation itself makes impossible.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
地方の小さな店では、都会並みの給料は望むべくもない。
ちほうのちいさなみせでは、とかいなみのきゅうりょうはのぞむべくもない。
At a small shop in the countryside, a city-level salary is out of the question.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 地方の小さな店 = a small shop in the countryside (the situation) → 望む = to hope for → 「べくもない」 = no point even hoping for it.
日本語を始めて半年のわたしの発音は、日本人とは比べるべくもない。
にほんごをはじめてはんとしのわたしのはつおんは、にほんじんとはくらべるべくもない。
My pronunciation, after only six months of Japanese, can't possibly compare with a native speaker's.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 始めて半年 = six months since starting (the situation) → 比べる = to compare → 「べくもない」 = no point even comparing.
十年前のわたしには、日本で働くことになるなど知るべくもなかった。
じゅうねんまえのわたしには、にほんではたらくことになるなどしるべくもなかった。
Ten years ago, there was no way I could have known I would end up working in Japan.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 十年前のわたし = me ten years ago (the situation) → 知る = to know → past of 「べくもない」: べくもなかった = there was no way I could have known.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「医者の話では、完全な回復は望む＿＿＿。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'No hope at all' — 「べく」+「も」+「ない」.
Dictionary form + べくもない: 望むべくもない = there's no hope of it. 「べからず」is a prohibition on signs.
In which sentence is 「べくもない」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Impossible because of the situation, or your own decision?
べくもない = impossible because of the situation. 'I won't drink tonight because I'm up early' is your own choice — say 「今夜は飲まないでおこう」.
「試験に合格する＿＿＿、毎日五時間勉強している。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Here we need purpose ('in order to'), not 'impossible'.
合格するべく = in order to pass (lesson 9). 「べくもなく」would say 'no way to pass' — the sentence breaks.
Your score: /3