に堪えない・
堪える is to bear something, or to hold up under it. The word before に tells you what is being borne: a sight, a test or a feeling.
too awful to watch
Footage that treats disaster victims as a spectacle is unbearable to watch.
good enough
It was a student performance, but it was polished enough to merit appreciation even as a paid concert.
deeply felt
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone's support.
How to form it
見る／聞く／読む or a noun + に堪えない／に堪える
Read たえない, たえる. These three are the only verbs. Any other action goes in as a noun: 実用に堪えない, not 使うに堪えない.
Which one is it?
| Before に | に | に |
|---|---|---|
| 見る, 聞く, 読む | Too awful to watch, hear or read | Worth watching or reading |
| A test: 鑑賞 (viewing), 評価 (appraisal), 批評 (criticism), 実用 (real use) | Not good enough to pass it | Good enough to pass it |
| A feeling: 感謝, 喜び, 遺憾 (regret) | You feel it deeply | Not used this way |
Too awful to watch, hear or read
The thing is too cruel, too ugly or too badly made to sit through. It is a strong judgment, met in news, reviews and novels. In conversation people say 見ていられない or 聞いていられない.
During the match, heckling too ugly to listen to came flying from the stands.
Often straight before a noun, as here.
The recording quality is so poor that this audio is unlistenable.
Good enough to pass the test
A reviewer's measured praise: the work was looked at hard and it held up. In conversation people say 見る価値がある or 十分楽しめる.
After revision, the paper became substantial enough to withstand expert evaluation.
This report lacks sufficient evidence and does not stand up to expert evaluation.
The same test, failed.
A feeling too strong to hold in
Here the negative doesn't cancel the feeling. You can't keep it in, so you feel it deeply. It is your own feeling, the ending is usually 堪えません, and の念 ("the feeling of") is often added. Only a few nouns go here, chiefly 感謝, 喜び, 感激, 遺憾, 哀惜 and 同情.
We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years.
Upon hearing of our teacher's death, we are overcome with sorrow at the loss.
This belongs to speeches, ceremonies and formal letters. To a friend, say 本当にありがとう.
堪えない or 耐えない?
Both are read たえない, and you will often see 見るに耐えない. Careful writing keeps 耐える for putting up with hardship, as in 痛みに耐える, and writes these three with 堪.
Close neighbours
に値するN2
The thing deserves what the noun names: 称賛 (praise), 注目 (attention). に堪える says less: it holds up.
Her courageous action deserves praise.
を禁じ得ないN1
Also a feeling you can't hold back, but one that rises as you watch or read: 怒り, 涙, 驚き. Written, and not ceremonial.
I cannot suppress my anger at such a selfish excuse.
に忍びないN1
Pity or attachment stops you: 見るに忍びない is too pitiful to watch, where 見るに堪えない is too awful. Also of what you can't bring yourself to do: 捨てるに忍びない.
The sight of the injured dog in pain is more than I can bear to watch.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
温かい
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
素人の
Choose an answer to see why.
3What does this say about the film?
あの
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
The photographs showing the scene immediately after the accident were too painful to look at.
This novel has so many misprints that it is unreadable.
The stage set was lavish, but the acting itself was not fit to be watched.
This translation is of a standard suitable for reading as a publishable manuscript.
We are overjoyed that our years of effort have been recognized in this way.