Grammar › Reason & Excuse
いかんせん — “unfortunately, the trouble is…”
Introduces a regrettable obstacle that undermines everything just described
いかんせん (from 如何せん, literally “what is to be done about it”) opens a clause that names an unfortunate, hard-to-overcome circumstance standing in the way of an otherwise good situation — “unfortunately, though, …”. It reads as literary regret, often followed by a plain statement of the limiting factor.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| いかんせん + clause | 才能はあるが、いかんせん経験が足りない — He has talent, but unfortunately, he lacks experience |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 計画は素晴らしかったが、いかんせん予算が足りなかった。 | けいかくはすばらしかったが、いかんせんよさんがたりなかった。 keikakuhasubarashikattaga、ikansenyosangatarinakatta。 | The plan was great, but unfortunately the budget fell short. |
| 彼女は熱心だ。いかんせん、体力がついていかない。 | かのじょはねっしんだ。いかんせん、たいりょくがついていかない。 kanojohanesshinda。ikansen、tairyokugatsuiteikanai。 | She's dedicated. The trouble is, her stamina just can't keep up. |
| 味は良いのだが、いかんせん値段が高すぎる。 | あじはよいのだが、いかんせんねだんがたかすぎる。 ajihayoinodaga、ikansennedangatakasugiru。 | The taste is good, but unfortunately it's just too expensive. |
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Watch out
いかんせん always frames the following clause as an unfortunate, limiting circumstance — it's not a neutral “however”; there's always a note of regret that things can't be helped.