JLPT N2 Grammar (te tamaranai)

Meaning

can't help but; dying to; extremely ~

How to use

Verb (たくて form)たまらない
な-adjective +
い-adjective + くて
te tamaranai てたまらない jlpt n2 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (te tamaranai). Meaning: can’t help but; dying to; extremely ~.

てたまらない (te tamaranai) comes from the Japanese word 堪る (tamaru), which means to bear or endure something (with emphasis).

たまらない is the negative version of that, meaning will not bear / endure, though it can actually mean both that one will not and/or cannot endure something.

It adds a strong emphasis that the speaker is at their “breaking point” with something (either negative or positive).

Verbs and い-adjectives will use the てたまらない form, while な-adjectives will use でたまらない instead.


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

あなたにあいたくてたまらない。
anata ni aetakute tamaranai.
I want to see you so bad...
Example #2

にほんのなつはあつすぎてたまらない。
nihon no natsu wa atsusugite tamaranai.
I can't stand Japan's hot summer.
Example #3

わたしはがいこくへいきたくてたまらない。
watashi wa gaikoku e ikitakute tamaranai.
I am aching to go abroad.
Example #4

こどものことがしんぱいでたまらない。
kodomo no koto ga shinpai de tamaranai.
I'm overwhelmed with worry about my children.
Example #5

わたしはめがいたくてたまらない。
watashi wa me ga itakute tamaranai.
My eyes hurt so much I can't stand it.
Example #6

kanojo ga dekite ureshikute tamaranai.
kanojo ga dekite ureshikute tamaranai.
I'm so glad that I was able to get a girlfriend!
Example #7

あのあたらひいえいがをみたくてたまらない。
ano atarashii eiga o mitakute tamaranai.
I can't wait to watch that new movie!

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
なつsummer
暑すぎるあつすぎるtoo hot
心配しんぱいworry
彼女かのじょshe; girlfriend
嬉しいうれしいhappy
映画えいがmovie
観るみるto watch

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JLPT N2 vocabulary list

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