やむを得ない (unavoidable)

A fixed expression preserved from classical Japanese (やむ 'cease' + を得ない 'cannot obtain'), meaning 'unavoidable, can't be helped, having no choice but to.' The predicate やむを得ない closes a clause; the adverbial form やむを得ず ('unavoidably, having no choice') modifies a clause. Formal cousin of しょうがない ('it can't be helped'); high-register equivalent of 仕方なく. Used to accept situations beyond one's control.