てしかたがない・
A feeling or a bodily state is so strong you can hardly bear it: heat, a toothache, missing someone, a worry that won't leave you alone. The four endings differ in what goes before them and in how they sound.
It's so hot and sticky tonight I can hardly stand it.
I can't stop thinking about my exam results.
I can't help feeling that there is a contradiction somewhere in his explanation.
How to form it
て-form + たまらない／しかたがない／ならない／かなわない
暑い → 暑くて, 会いたい → 会いたくて, 心配 → 心配で, 気になる → 気になって. What goes before is a feeling or a state, not something you decide to do. Also written 仕方がない. Polite: たまりません, しかたがありません, なりません.
Which one is it?
| Form | Goes with | How it sounds |
|---|---|---|
| てたまらない | Feelings, sensations and wants: 暑くて, 痛くて, 好きで, 会いたくて | Everyday |
| てしかたがない, てしょうがない | All of those, and thoughts that come by themselves: 気が | Everyday. しょうが |
| てならない | Feelings and thoughts that come by themselves: 残念で, 不思議で, 思えて | Formal or written |
| てかなわない | Only what is a nuisance: うるさくて, 暑くて, 忙しくて | A grumble |
The ない at the end denies nothing: 残念でならない is deep regret, not "no regret".
Your own feeling
All four say what you feel yourself. About someone else, add ようだ or らしい, or say what they told you.
My little brother seems to be dying to get home.
Him. You only see it from outside, so ようだ.
My mother says she is worried sick because my brother is so late home.
Side by side
Something that bothers you
The building work next door is so noisy I can't stand it.
How it feels: more than you can bear.
The building work next door is unbearably noisy.
The same, in casual talk.
The noise of the building work next door is more than I can put up with.
A grumble about something you are stuck with.
Something you want
I'm dying to see the baby.
会いたくてしかたがない says the same.
Not said: 赤ちゃんに
(I'm dying to see the baby.)
てかなわない isn't for wants or for anything pleasant.
A thought that comes by itself
I can't shake the feeling that I've forgotten something.
The formal or written choice.
I can't shake the feeling that I've forgotten something.
The same, in an everyday voice.
Sounds odd: 何か
I can't shake the feeling that I've forgotten something.
てたまらない rarely follows 気がする, and doesn't follow 思える.
With も or は it is something else
I'm worried sick about the result.
No も: so worried you can't bear it.
There's no point worrying about the result.
With も: worrying won't help.
Close neighbours
ずにはいられないN2
"Can't help doing": a feeling is too strong, so you do it. The four here are for what you feel.
When I saw that photo, I couldn't help laughing.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
あの
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
明日の
Choose an answer to see why.
3You are telling a friend about your little sister. Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
This heat is unbearable, isn't it?
Shall I open the window?
My tooth has been killing me since last night.
I can hardly wait for next month's trip.
I'm dying to know my exam results.
I absolutely love this novel.
I cannot understand why only the important records were lost.
I deeply regret that I could not properly thank everyone who supported me over the years.
This room gets the afternoon sun, and the heat is more than I can take.
The pollen is making my eyes itch like mad.