〜てたまらない: This means you feel something very strongly. You cannot control this feeling. It is like saying 'I can't help but feel this way'.

〜てたまらない

This means you feel something very strongly. You cannot control this feeling. It is like saying 'I can't help but feel this way'.

N3 KMT6CasualStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedUtmost Limit Or Extreme FeelingGrammar

Verb [て-form] + たまらないPrimary

い-Adjective [て-form] + たまらない

な-Adjective + で + たまらない

This means you feel something very strongly. You cannot control this feeling. It is like saying 'I can't help but feel this way'.

国へ帰りたい。家族に会いたくてたまらないんです。

I want to go back to my home country. I miss my family so much I can't stand it.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDesireFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

今年の夏は、蒸し暑くてたまらない。

This summer is unbearably hot and humid.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWeather & Geography Daily Life

子供が病気だと聞いて、心配でたまらなかった。

When I heard my child was sick, I was worried sick.

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health Emotions & Psychology

新しいゲームが欲しくてたまらないが、お金がなくて買えない。

I'm dying to have the new game, but I don't have the money to buy it.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDesireGames Business & Finance

試合に負けて、悔しくてたまらない気持ちになった。

After losing the match, I was filled with a feeling of unbearable frustration.

NeutralPastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeSports & Martial Arts Emotions & Psychology

This is like "te shikata ga nai" and "te naranai". But "te tamaranai" is often for strong body feelings. It is also for sudden feelings. "Te naranai" is a bit more formal. It is for feelings that just happen. "Te shikata ga nai" is very similar. You can often use them in the same way. But some people think "te tamaranai" is stronger.

Watch out: You cannot use this phrase to talk about someone else's feelings directly. For example, do not say 'Tanaka is unbearably happy'. This sounds strange. Instead, you must show you are guessing their feelings. Say 'Tanaka seems unbearably happy'.

Don't use this when talking about other people's feelings. For example, don't say 'He is so sad he can't stand it.'

Often confused with(2)

〜てならない

Expresses a very strong, spontaneous feeling or desire that arises naturally and is difficult to control. Often translated as 'can't help but feel/think', 'unbearably', or 'extremely'.

〜て仕方(しかた)がない

This phrase shows a feeling you cannot control. It means you feel something very strongly. You cannot help but feel it.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ことか

This phrase shows strong feelings. It is like saying 'How...!' or 'What a...!' in English. You use it to show surprise, happiness, sadness, or anger.

〜てやまない

This phrase shows a very strong feeling. It means you feel something deeply and for a long time. It is like saying 'I never stop feeling this way'.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜限りだ

This shows a very strong feeling. It means something is 'extremely' or 'the most' that way.

〜てならない

Expresses a very strong, spontaneous feeling or desire that arises naturally and is difficult to control. Often translated as 'can't help but feel/think', 'unbearably', or 'extremely'.

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜くて (adjective)

This is how you connect two い-adjectives. It means 'and' when you list qualities. You use it to describe things with more than one feature.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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Dictionary

〜てたまらない

This means you feel something very strongly. You cannot control this feeling. It is like saying 'I can't help but feel this way'.

N3 KMT6CasualStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedUtmost Limit Or Extreme FeelingGrammar

Verb [て-form] + たまらないPrimary

い-Adjective [て-form] + たまらない

な-Adjective + で + たまらない

This means you feel something very strongly. You cannot control this feeling. It is like saying 'I can't help but feel this way'.

国へ帰りたい。家族に会いたくてたまらないんです。

I want to go back to my home country. I miss my family so much I can't stand it.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDesireFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

今年の夏は、蒸し暑くてたまらない。

This summer is unbearably hot and humid.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWeather & Geography Daily Life

子供が病気だと聞いて、心配でたまらなかった。

When I heard my child was sick, I was worried sick.

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health Emotions & Psychology

新しいゲームが欲しくてたまらないが、お金がなくて買えない。

I'm dying to have the new game, but I don't have the money to buy it.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDesireGames Business & Finance

試合に負けて、悔しくてたまらない気持ちになった。

After losing the match, I was filled with a feeling of unbearable frustration.

NeutralPastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeSports & Martial Arts Emotions & Psychology

Don't use this when talking about other people's feelings. For example, don't say 'He is so sad he can't stand it.'

Often confused with(2)

〜てならない

Expresses a very strong, spontaneous feeling or desire that arises naturally and is difficult to control. Often translated as 'can't help but feel/think', 'unbearably', or 'extremely'.

〜て仕方(しかた)がない

This phrase shows a feeling you cannot control. It means you feel something very strongly. You cannot help but feel it.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ことか

This phrase shows strong feelings. It is like saying 'How...!' or 'What a...!' in English. You use it to show surprise, happiness, sadness, or anger.

〜てやまない

This phrase shows a very strong feeling. It means you feel something deeply and for a long time. It is like saying 'I never stop feeling this way'.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜限りだ

This shows a very strong feeling. It means something is 'extremely' or 'the most' that way.

〜てならない

Expresses a very strong, spontaneous feeling or desire that arises naturally and is difficult to control. Often translated as 'can't help but feel/think', 'unbearably', or 'extremely'.

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜くて (adjective)

This is how you connect two い-adjectives. It means 'and' when you list qualities. You use it to describe things with more than one feature.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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〜てたまらない

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

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〜てたまらない

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery