とても～ないcan't possibly
This is not the とても that means "very". Before a negative that means "can't", とても is "can't possibly": whatever you do, it is beyond you.
This sofa is so heavy that I can't possibly carry it alone.
I couldn't possibly eat this much.
How to form it
とても + a negative that means "can't"
Mostly a potential form: とても読めない, とても買えない, とても信じられない, とてもできない. Also とても間に合わない and とても無理だ. Other words can come in between.
- What stops you
- Weight, price, time, difficulty, or your own feelings.
- Tone
- Neutral. With ません it is a polite, modest no: "I couldn't possibly".
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation, work and writing alike.
In use
The writing is so small that I can't possibly read it.
I can't possibly believe a story like that.
I can't possibly agree to such a dangerous plan.
Even if we start running now, we can't possibly make the last train.
Very, or can't possibly?
This curry is very hot.
Nothing negative follows: "very".
This curry is so hot that I can't possibly eat it.
A "can't" follows: "can't possibly".
"Not very" is あまり…ない: あまり辛くない, "not very hot".
Close neighbours
どうしてもN3
"Just can't": you try, and it doesn't work. とても…ない is a verdict on the thing, no trying needed.
I did my best, but I just couldn't eat it all.
っこないN3
Casual and emphatic, for friends and family: "no way". On a verb stem, mostly できる and potential forms, or a verb for how things turn out (間に合う).
Even if we leave now, there's no way we'll make the last train.
The negative of the "looks like" そうだ: "doesn't look like it will". A judgment from how things look now, not a flat "impossible", so it softens a no.
The train is more than an hour late, so it doesn't look like I'll make the meeting.
わけがないN3
Rules an idea out: "there's no way". After a "can" form (できるわけがない) it comes close, with more heat; it can also deny what something is or was, which とても…ない cannot.
It's this cheap, so there's no way it's the real thing.
はずがないN4
The same kind of denial, from what you know: "it can't be".
Tomorrow is the shop's regular day off, so it can't be open.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
こんなに
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
一日で
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
In conversation, とてもじゃないけど says it with more force.
With this few people, there's just no way we can clear it all up by the weekend.
With 見えない or 思えない it is "you would never think so".
You would never think my mother was sixty.
More sentences
On this budget, we can't possibly buy new equipment.
That watch is far too expensive for a student like me; I can't possibly afford it.
手が出ない, "out of reach", is a set phrase, mostly for prices.
I can't possibly memorize this whole word list in three days.
After having something that awful said to me, I can't possibly act as if nothing happened.