【JLPT N1 Grammar Point6】
As you climb to the highest levels of Japanese, you need to express deep, sincere emotions, especially in formal writing, speeches, or literature. One such refined grammar structure is:
🌟 ～にたえない
Meaning:
- Cannot bear…
- Beyond words…
- Overwhelmed with…
Used to express strong emotional reactions—whether sorrow, gratitude, or discomfort—that are almost too intense to handle.
🔧 Grammar Structure
[Noun] + にたえない
This structure is often used with specific emotion-related nouns.
✅ Common Patterns
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 感謝の念にたえない | I am overwhelmed with gratitude |
| 驚きにたえない | I am deeply shocked |
| 悲しみにたえない | I am overwhelmed with grief |
| 同情にたえない | I cannot help but sympathize |
| 残念にたえない | I feel deeply regretful |
📝 Example Sentences
1. ご親切に対し、感謝の念にたえません。
(I cannot express enough gratitude for your kindness.)
▶ Formal, often used in speeches or letters.
2. 突然の訃報に接し、悲しみにたえない**思いです。
(I am overwhelmed with sadness upon hearing the sudden news of the death.)
▶ Often used in obituaries or condolence messages.
3. このような賞をいただき、感激にたえません。
(I am deeply moved and honored to receive this award.)
▶ A standard phrase in acceptance speeches.
4. 動物たちが苦しむ姿は、見るにたえない。
(It’s unbearable to watch the animals suffer.)
▶ This version uses a verb phrase instead of a noun.
📚 Special Note: Verb Usage
You can also say:
- 見るにたえない (too painful to watch)
- 聞くにたえない (too painful to hear)
- 読むにたえない (unreadable or offensive to read)
📌 In these cases, it means something is so unpleasant or painful that it cannot be endured.
🔄 Comparison with Similar Expressions
| Expression | Usage | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| ～てたまらない | Common in spoken Japanese | Emphasizes physical or emotional feelings |
| ～ずにはいられない | Focuses on uncontrollable action | Less formal |
| ～にたえない | Formal, emotional, literary | Often used in writing and speeches |
✍️ Practice Challenge
Try translating these into Japanese using ～にたえない:
- I cannot bear the pain of losing my friend.
- I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s support.
- The movie was so violent it was hard to watch.
- This book is too poorly written to be readable.
🧠 (Answers at the bottom!)
🗣 Use in Real Life
This grammar point appears often in:
- Speeches: formal appreciation, condolences
- Letters: business, ceremonial, or farewell messages
- Essays: expressing emotional reflection
- Literature: dramatic narrative descriptions
🏆 Use this phrase to sound native-level formal:
この度のご厚意に、感謝の念にたえません。
(I am deeply grateful for your kindness on this occasion.)
🏁 Summary
| Grammar Point | ～にたえない |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Cannot bear / Overwhelmed by |
| Form | Noun + にたえない OR Verb (dictionary form) + にたえない |
| Tone | Formal, literary, emotional |
| Use | Gratitude, sorrow, criticism, praise |
✅ Practice Answers
- 友人を失った悲しみは、たえません。
- 皆様のご支援に、感謝の念にたえません。
- その映画は暴力的すぎて、見るにたえなかった。
- この本は内容がひどく、読むにたえない。
📘 Coming Next: ～を余儀なくされる – Expressing unavoidable circumstances or forced decisions, often in news or business reports.
