How do you use "It Is What It Is" in a sentence?

The flight's cancelled.' 'It is what it is. It is what it is—no point worrying about it. I didn't get the job, but it is what it is. It is what it is, and we have to work with it.

It Is What It Is

Q: What does "It Is What It Is" mean?

Accept the situation as it is; nothing can be done Philosophical acceptance of an unchangeable situation. Can be genuine acceptance or resigned defeat.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Accept the situation as it is; nothing can be done

接受现状吧；无法改变

Acepta la situación como es; no se puede hacer nada

現実を受け入れよう；どうしようもない

어쩔 수 없지; 현실을 받아들이자

Philosophical acceptance of an unchangeable situation. Can be genuine acceptance or resigned defeat.

对无法改变的情况的哲学性接受。可能是真正的接受也可能是无奈的认输。

Aceptación filosófica de una situación que no se puede cambiar. Puede ser aceptación genuina o derrota resignada.

変えられない状況に対する哲学的な受け入れ。本当の受け入れか諦めの敗北かもしれない。

바꿀 수 없는 상황을 철학적으로 받아들이는 표현. 진심으로 받아들이는 것일 수도 있고, 체념적인 패배감일 수도 있다.

Examples

The flight's cancelled.' 'It is what it is.
航班取消了。' '就这样吧。
El vuelo está cancelado.' 'Es lo que hay.
フライトがキャンセルになった。' 'しょうがないね。
비행기가 결항됐어.' '어쩔 수 없지 뭐.
It is what it is—no point worrying about it.
就这样吧——担心也没用。
Es lo que hay—no tiene sentido preocuparse.
しょうがない——心配してもしょうがない。
어쩔 수 없어——걱정해봤자 소용없어.
I didn't get the job, but it is what it is.
我没得到那份工作，但就这样吧。
No conseguí el trabajo, pero es lo que hay.
仕事は取れなかったけど、しょうがないね。
그 일자리 못 얻었는데, 어쩔 수 없지.
It is what it is, and we have to work with it.
就这样吧，我们得面对现实。
Es lo que hay, y tenemos que trabajar con ello.
しょうがない、なんとかするしかない。
어쩔 수 없으니까 그걸로 해나가야지.

Pronunciation

/ɪt ɪz wɒt ɪt ɪz/

Usage Guide

Context: acceptance, resignation, philosophy

Tone: accepting, resigned

✓ Do Say

It is what it is.
就这样吧。
Es lo que hay.
しょうがないね。
어쩔 수 없지.
Well, it is what it is.
嗯，就这样吧。
Bueno, es lo que hay.
まあ、しょうがないね。
뭐, 어쩔 수 없지.
It is what it is—let's move on.
就这样吧——继续前进吧。
Es lo que hay—sigamos adelante.
しょうがない——先に進もう。
어쩔 수 없으니——넘어가자.

✗ Don't Say

Some find it annoying or defeatist
有些人觉得烦人或消极
Algunos lo encuentran molesto o derrotista
煩わしいまたは敗北主義的と感じる人もいる
짜증나거나 패배적이라고 느끼는 사람도 있음
Overused as catchphrase
作为口头禅被过度使用
Usado en exceso como muletilla
キャッチフレーズとして使いすぎ
유행어처럼 남용됨

Common Mistakes

Can sound dismissive or defeatist
Very popular, sometimes mocked

Origin & History

Tautological phrase expressing acceptance of reality. Became popular catchphrase in 2000s, though the sentiment is ancient.

Etymology: Tautology expressing acceptance: the situation is what it is

First recorded: Popularized 2000s, older origins

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s peak popularity

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Sports and business cliché; Often parodied

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

It is what it isIs what it isThat's just what it is