TAKOBOTO

nothing else to do but...
nothing else to do but stay in bed

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かぜをひいた。あたたかくしてねるよりほかない。

I have a cold, so there is nothing else to do but stay warm and sleep.

ゆきのため、しんかんせんがえきとえきのまでとまってしまった。じょうきゃくはじっとしゃないでまつよりほかない。

The shinkansen stopped between stations due to snow. The passengers had nothing to do but patiently wait inside the train.

たいふうでいえがおしながされた。ひとびとはどうすることもできず、じっとみているほかなかった。

Houses were washed away because of the typhoon. People could do nothing but helplessly and quietly watch.

もはや、のたけし（）だいとうりょうのさいしんにんをとうこくみんとうひょうにすすむほかない。それがこのましいからではなく、そのほかのとがとざされているからだ。

Already there is nothing else but to proceed with a national referendum for a vote of confidence in Prime Minister No Muhyon. This route is not taken because [we] want to, but because there is no other alternative available - that

べんきょうするよりほかない

nothing else to do but study

ほんとうのことをいうよりしかたなかった

I had no alternative but to tell the truth

せいふはたのさいにゅうげんをかんがえだすほかない。

The Administration cannot but look for alternative sources of revenue.

かれらはけいかくぜんたいをあきらめるよりほかないといけんがいっちしている。

They agree that they have no choice but to give up the whole plan.

あめがふっているので、ざんねんだがきょうのえんそくはえんきするほかない

unfortunately,it's raining today.nothing else to do but the trip has postponed.

＊In (より)ほかない、the より is optional.
＊Alternative grammar includes: 〜(する)しかない and 〜以外に方法がない.

FORMATION:
Ｖ(plain form) + (より)ほかない

rubyhatchet

when there is a yori in the phrase does it imply "better" as in nothing better?

勉強するほかない = nothing to do but study

勉強するよりほかない = nothing better to do than study

?

dc

I think your understanding is correct.

Miki

The second example implies there is nothing else to do.
I think "nothing better to do than to stay warm and sleep >> 暖かくして寝るより やりよう／しょう がない。

Miki

Interesting. Not sure what the より is doing in the second example then. Anyway example check to +1.

Amatuka

As for the first example, it was picked up exactly from an article but the end of the sentence is a bit weird for me. As an example, it would be better to delete そうだ in the end. →その他に道がないために。

Miki

As far as I understand this has a very similar meaning although somewhat stronger>>
なんとかやるしかない
Would this be correct?

wynnej2

The use of より makes the phrase more formal. See Dictionary of Advanced Japanese grammar yori/no hoka (ni) (wa) nai (pg 734)

StayGold

Ex #3223 is missing ほかない。。。

karekano