JLPT N2 grammar
〜っこない — Meaning & Examples
No chance whatsoever — emphatic and casual only. 分かりっこない. In writing use はずがない or わけがない.
〜っこない and 〜得る
〜っこない = "there's no way / no chance." Emphatic, casual, and slightly emotional.
Formation: ます-stem + っこない
そんな話、信じっこないよ。
= There's no way I'd believe a story like that.
一日で終わりっこない。
= There's no chance it'll finish in a day.
こんな難しい問題、分かりっこない。
= No way I can understand a problem this hard.
Register warning: っこない is friends-and-family only. In writing or business, use 〜はずがない or 〜わけがない instead.
---
〜得る（うる / える）= "can / is possible." Formal, written, and neutral in tone.
Formation: ます-stem + 得る
誰にでも起こり得ることです。
= It's something that could happen to anyone.
それは十分あり得る。
= That's entirely possible.
Reading note: the dictionary form is read うる or える; every other form uses え — 得ない（えない）, 得た（えた）, 得ます（えます）.
Negative 〜得ない = "cannot possibly":
そんなことはあり得ない。
= That's impossible. (you'll hear this one constantly)
信じ得ない話だ。 = an unbelievable story.
Quick placement guide:
Bad thing might happen → かねない
Politely can't do it → かねる
No chance, casual → っこない
Formally possible → 得る / impossible → 得ない 📘
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜っこない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 分かりっこない is appropriate in which situation?
- A business email
- Talking with close friends
- An academic essay
- A formal presentation
Show answer
Answer: Talking with close friends
〜っこない is emphatic and casual — friends and family only. In writing use はずがない or わけがない.
2. You need to warn that an accident might happen. Which fits best?
- 事故が起こりかねます
- 事故が起こりっこない
- 事故が起こり得ません
- 事故が起こりかねない
Show answer
Answer: 事故が起こりかねない
かねない = a bad thing could well happen — exactly a warning. かねます would mean "I am unable to cause an accident."
Practise 〜っこない in the free app
This point is part of the “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N2 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
Free on iPhone and Android · No ads
Related N2 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜っこない mean?
No chance whatsoever — emphatic and casual only. 分かりっこない. In writing use はずがない or わけがない.
Is 〜っこない on the JLPT N2 test?
〜っこない is taught in the JLPT N2 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜っこない?
Open the “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N2 mock exams, with no ads.