余儀なくされる
よぎなくされる·yoginaku sareru
Meaning
to be forced to; to be compelled to; to have no choice but to; to be left with no option
Nuance & Usage
余儀なくされる is a formal passive expression meaning to be compelled to do something due to unavoidable circumstances — there was no other choice. 中止を余儀なくされる (to be forced to cancel), 撤退を余儀なくされる (to be compelled to withdraw), 変更を余儀なくされる (forced to make changes) are very common in news and formal reporting. The construction is 〜を余儀なくされる (to be forced into ~). Unlike 強制される (kyousei sareru — to be forced/coerced by another's will), 余儀なくされる implies circumstances force the outcome — not a person.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 余儀なくされる with 強制される (to be forced/coerced, by another person's deliberate action) and せざるを得ない (cannot help but do, personal compulsion). 余儀なくされる is specifically about external circumstances making an action unavoidable — it's passive and formal. The causative form is: 〜に余儀なくさせる (to force someone into a situation, rare). This expression appears almost exclusively in formal writing and news — not in casual speech.
Example Sentences (3)
台風の接近により、いべんとの中止を余儀なくされた。
たいふうのせっきんにより、いべんとのちゅうしをよぎなくされた。
Due to the approaching typhoon, we were forced to cancel the event.
工場の火災により、多くの従業員が一時的に職を失うことを余儀なくされた。
こうじょうのかさいにより、おおくのじゅうぎょういんがいちじてきにしょくをうしなうことをよぎなくされた。
Due to the factory fire, many employees were forced to temporarily lose their jobs.
財政難により、市は公共さーびすの大幅な削減を余儀なくされた。
ざいせいなんにより、しはこうきょうさーびすのおおはばなさくげんをよぎなくされた。
Due to financial difficulties, the city was forced to make drastic cuts to public services.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
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