切れない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 切れない | 切れなくない |
| Polite | 切れないです | 切れなくないですalso 切れなくありません |
| Past polite | 切れなかったです | 切れなくなかったですalso 切れなくありませんでした |
| Past | 切れなかった | 切れなくなかった |
| Te-form | 切れなくて | 切れなくなくて |
| Adverbial | 切れなく | |
| Conditional | 切れなければ | 切れなくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 切れなかったら | 切れなくなかったら |
cannot completely ...; too much to ...
Attaches to the -masu stem of a verb to express that the action cannot be fully completed because the amount or degree is excessive. Often used with verbs like 食べる, 数える, 持つ, etc.
See also: 切れる
I can't possibly eat all this food by myself.
There are too many stars to count.
切れる is the positive potential form meaning 'can completely do', while 切れない is its negative counterpart meaning 'cannot completely do'.
Kanji spelling; usually written in kana.
Rare ateji spelling; not recommended for learners.
Negative potential form of 切る (to cut), used as a suffix meaning 'to do completely'. The negative 切れない thus means 'cannot do completely'.