かなわない
か
な
わ
な
い
かなわない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | かなわない | かなわなくない |
| Polite | かなわないです | かなわなくないですalso かなわなくありません |
| Past polite | かなわなかったです | かなわなくなかったですalso かなわなくありませんでした |
| Past | かなわなかった | かなわなくなかった |
| Te-form | かなわなくて | かなわなくなくて |
| Adverbial | かなわなく | |
| Conditional | かなわなければ | かなわなくなければ |
| Tara conditional | かなわなかったら | かなわなくなかったら |
Meanings
1
no match for; cannot compete with; powerless against
usually written using kana alone
Expresses that someone or something is overwhelmingly superior, so you cannot rival or defeat them. Often used with には or に.
I'm no match for him.
I can't handle this heat.
2
cannot stand; unbearable; intolerable
usually written using kana alone
Used after an adjective in the て form (〜てかなわない) to mean 'so ... that I can't stand it'. Expresses strong emotional or physical discomfort.
It's so hot I can't stand it.
It's unbearably noisy.
3
usually written using kana alonedated term
Dated usage meaning 'cannot do' or 'impossible'. Rare in modern Japanese; usually replaced by できない or other expressions.
In old language, かなわない meant 'cannot do'.
Usage patterns
- 〈相手〉には敵わないto be no match for someone
Nobody can match his skill.
- 〈形容詞〉てかなわないto be unbearably ~; can't stand how ~ it is
It's so hot today that I can't stand it.