てはかなわないCannot stand it if this happens
Use this to complain that an unwelcome event or state would be intolerable if it occurred or continued. It expresses strong nuisance, burden, or discomfort—not neutral inability.
An intolerable condition
The part before は sets up an unwanted condition: roughly, “if this happens,” “whenever this happens,” or “if this keeps happening.” The ending then says that the affected person cannot reasonably put up with it. The pronunciation of the particle written は is わ.
こちらとしては、締め切りを何度も変えられてはかなわない。
We can't have the deadline changed over and over.
AnalyzeThe passive form makes the change something imposed on the speaker's side, and the repeated changes are presented as intolerable.
What normally causes the complaint
Natural causes include repeated noise, heat, inconvenience, delays, changing demands, and other people's imposed actions. The affected person may be stated directly, but is often understood as the speaker or the speaker's group. Use the construction when the situation is genuinely unwelcome and difficult to control; it is too emotionally negative for a detached statement of inconvenience.
Choosing among similar complaints
On this page, explicit てはかなわない is used when the first part works as an if-or-when condition. Plain てかなわない more directly complains about a state already being experienced. Natural usage can blur this boundary, since the particle may be optional. By comparison, てたまらない emphasizes overpowering intensity and can be used for positive feelings, while てしかたがない is broader and does not inherently reject the cause as a nuisance.
More examples
私は、毎晩のように隣の部屋で騒がれてはかなわない。
I can't stand having people make noise in the next room almost every night.
Analyze来月も電気代がこんなに高くてはかなわない。
I can't have the electricity bill being this high again next month.
Analyzeこの先も交通が不便ではかなわないので、事務所の移転を検討している。
We cannot put up with the poor transport access continuing, so we are considering moving the office.
Analyze私たちは、雨のたびに倉庫が浸水してはかなわないので、排水設備を直すことにした。
We cannot have the warehouse flood every time it rains, so we decided to repair the drainage system.
Analyzeうちには小さな子どもがいるので、夜遅くまで隣で騒がれてはかなわない。
We have a small child, so we can't have people making noise next door late at night.
Analyze利用者としては、問い合わせのたびに一時間も待たされてはかなわない。
As a user, I can't accept being made to wait an hour every time I make an inquiry.
Analyze