〜っこない

Absolutely not; No way; It's impossible to ~

1. Overview

「〜っこない」 is a colloquial expression used to emphasize that something is impossible or very unlikely to happen. It conveys a strong sense of disbelief or negation regarding the possibility of an action or situation.

2. Structure

• Grammar Structure:

  • Verb (stem form) + っこない
  • Verb (dictionary form) + っこない

• Explanation:

  • 「〜っこない」 means "there's no way that ~" or "it's impossible to ~."
  • This structure emphasizes the speaker's conviction that the action or situation cannot occur under any circumstances.

3. Usage Explanation

• Emphasis on Impossibility: It is often used in informal conversations to express strong denial or disbelief regarding an event or action.

• Colloquial Nature: This expression is casual and commonly used in spoken Japanese, making it less appropriate for formal contexts.

• English Translation: This structure can be translated as "absolutely not," "no way," or "it's impossible to," depending on the context.

4. Example Sentences

1. こんなに遅れて、間に合うわけっこない。
   There's no way I can make it on time after being this late.

2. 彼がそんなことをするなんて、ありえっこない。
   There's absolutely no way he would do something like that.

3. 私があなたに負けるなんて、ありえっこない！
   There's no way I could lose to you!

5. Key Points to Note

• Informal Usage: 「〜っこない」 is primarily used in spoken language and informal writing. It is not suitable for formal or polite contexts.

• Variation: It can also appear in variations like 「〜っこない」 or 「〜っから」 but with slight changes in nuance.

6. Similar Grammar

• 〜はずがない: Also indicates that something is impossible or unreasonable.

  • Example: 彼がそんなことをするはずがない。
    (There's no way he would do something like that.)

• 〜わけがない: Used to emphasize that something cannot happen, similar to 「〜っこない」.

  • Example: こんなに簡単な問題を間違えるわけがない。
    (There's no way I could make a mistake on such a simple problem.)

7. Alternative Grammar

• 〜ないだろう: Indicates speculation about a certain event or situation, implying it is unlikely.

  • Example: 彼が来ないだろう。
    (He probably won't come.)

• 〜わけではない: Used to negate a certain situation, meaning "it's not that..."

  • Example: 私はあなたが嫌いなわけではない。
    (It's not that I dislike you.)

8. Summary

「〜っこない」 is used to express strong disbelief or the impossibility of a particular action or situation. It emphasizes that the speaker is convinced that something cannot occur, making it a powerful way to convey negation in informal Japanese conversation.