cannot help but feel, extremely

Intermediate

20-25 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Similar to てたまらない but often used for emotional states.

[Verb て-form/い-adj くて/な-adj で] + ならない

故郷が懐かしくてならない。

Furusato ga natsukashikute naranai.

I cannot help but miss my hometown.

彼の成功が羨ましくてならない。

Kare no seikou ga urayamashikute naranai.

I cannot help but feel envious of his success.

More literary/formal than てたまらない.

～てたまらない

unbearably, extremely, cannot stand

～ば～ほど

the more... the more...

～ために (tame ni)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~

～のに (noni)

although ~, despite ~, even though ~

～にもかかわらず

despite ~, in spite of ~

～ようになる

come to ~, become able to ~, reach the point where ~

Often used in written language for emotional expressions.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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