しかたなかった

couldn't be helped, had no choice

→ 仕方無い

しかた way, method + なかっ Past negative + た Past tense

adjective · past tense Rare #40,489

couldn't be helped, had no choice A past form of しかたない, often written 仕方なかった.

JA: 雨で試合が中止になったのはしかたなかった。

EN: It couldn't be helped that the game was canceled because of the rain.

Forms of 仕方無い

I had no choice but to obey.

It was an order from the president, so I had no choice.

— Departures (2008)

Looking back now, I suppose there was nothing I could do about it.

— 映画聲の形 (2016)

He couldn't wait to see his daughter.