JLPT N1 Grammar

〜でかなわない / 〜てかなわない (de kanawanai / te kanawanai)

〜でかなわない / 〜てかなわない (de kanawanai / te kanawanai)
"Cannot stand; unbearable; extremely; so... I can't help it"

This expression is used to emphasize that a certain physical sensation, emotion, or situation is so extreme that the speaker finds it difficult to endure or cope with. It highlights a sense of being troubled or bothered by an excess of something.

  • Formality: Neutral to slightly informal in spoken contexts, but common in written narratives to describe internal states.
  • Context: Used in both spoken and written Japanese. In a professional setting, it is often used when venting to colleagues or expressing a personal grievance about a situation (e.g., "The noise from the construction is unbearable").
  • Nuance: It carries a strong negative connotation. The speaker is expressing a subjective complaint or a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is rarely used for positive things unless used sarcastically or to emphasize a "happy problem" (though the latter is rare).

Format

  • Verb (て-form) + かなわなない
    隣の部屋がうるさくてかなわない。The room next door is so noisy I can't stand it.
  • い-Adj 〜くて + かなわなない
    毎日残業続きでは、体がだるくてかなわない。With overtime every day, my body feels so sluggish I can't bear it.
  • な-Adj + で + かなわなない
    この作業は複雑でかなわない。This task is so complicated I can't stand it.

Example sentences

  • 、。
    With the heatwave continuing day after day, doing outside sales is unbearably hot.
  • 。
    The demolition work on the building next door is so noisy I can't stand it.
  • 、。
    The manager's instructions keep changing back and forth; I can't stand being jerked around like this.
  • 、。
    As the yen weakens, import costs are skyrocketing, and it’s just unbearable for the business.
  • 。
    During the peak season, I can't take any time off, and it's driving me crazy.
  • 、。
    The PC is running so slowly that my work isn't progressing, and I can't stand it.
  • 、。
    He just keeps quibbling, and since I can't get through to him, it's unbearable.
  • 、。
    The crowding on the commuter trains is unbearable, especially since it's an everyday occurrence.
  • 、。
    Being lectured for a whole hour over a trivial mistake is such a waste of time I can't stand it.
  • 、。
    This project carries so much responsibility that the pressure is unbearable.

Similar Grammar

〜てたまらない (te tamaranai)

“Can’t help but...; dying to...; extremely”
家族に会いたくてたまらない。 I miss my family so much I can't stand it.

Difference:

  • Unlike kanawanai, which is almost always negative/bothersome, tamaranai can be used for strong physical desires or positive emotions (e.g., "I'm so happy I can't stand it").

〜てしょうがない / 〜てしかたがない (te shōganai / te shikata ga nai)

“Cannot be helped; very; extremely”
暇でしかたがない。 I am so bored I don't know what to do with myself.

Difference:

  • These are more neutral and common in daily conversation.
  • They describe a spontaneous feeling that the speaker cannot control, whereas kanawanai emphasizes the "unbearable" or "troublesome" nature of the situation.

〜てならない (te naranai)

“Cannot help but feel; extremely”
将来が不安でならない。 I am incredibly anxious about the future.

Difference:

  • Very formal and literary. Often used with verbs of emotion (fear, regret, hope) or spontaneous thoughts.

〜極まりない (kiwamarinai)

“Extremely; knows no bounds; the height of...”
彼の態度は失礼極まりない。 His attitude is the height of rudeness.

Difference:

  • Used for objective (usually negative) evaluations of a situation or person's character, rather than the speaker's personal physical endurance.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. のに、のまで、にのが（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. のであったがし、（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. がだらけで、が（　　　）かなわない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. をにするとは、として（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. からにが、（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. のにが、（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. のをで（　　　）かなわない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. が（　　　）、なをいいというわけではない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. がのまま、だけが（　　　）かなわない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. 、までには、が（　　　）かなわない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. はだ（　　　）、がしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. のをが、が（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. の（　　　）、のがに。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. がをし、が（　　　）かなわない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. （　　　）、のもせざるを得ない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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