JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜てしかたない” “〜てたまらない” and ” 〜てかなわない”

Table of Contents

1. 「Difference between “〜てしかたない” “〜てたまらない” and ” 〜てかなわない”
2. 〜てしかたない
3. 〜てたまらない
4. 〜てかなわない
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: I don’t quite understand the difference between “〜てしかたない,” “〜てたまらない,” and “〜てかなわない.”

A: All of these expressions convey strong emotions or sensations, but there are clear differences in nuance and usage depending on the situation. Let’s compare their meanings and usage patterns to better understand how they differ.

～てしかたない・しょうがない (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Expresses emotions, sensations, or desires that are extremely strong, with a feeling of “very…” or “can’t help but…”.
Often used when feelings well up from within and cannot be suppressed.

[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + しかたない / しょうがない
[A] い adjective て form + しかたない / しょうがない
[Na] な adjective + で + しかたない / しょうがない

[Examples]
採用さいよう試験しけんの結果けっかが気きになってしょうがないです。
I can’t stop thinking about the results of the job interview.

N1に受うかってうれしくてしかたありません。
I’m so happy I passed the N1 exam—I can hardly contain it.

明日あしたの遠足えんそくが楽たのしみでしかたないです。
I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s field trip.

This expression can be used for both positive and negative feelings.
It conveys a state where emotions or sensations naturally well up and become uncontrollable.

[Examples]
この映画えいがは泣なけてしかたなかったです。
This movie was so moving, I couldn’t stop crying.
⇒ Expresses a strong emotion that couldn’t be suppressed.

夜中よなかなのにお腹なかが空すいてしょうがなくて、ラーメンを食たべてちゃったよ。
Even though it was the middle of the night, I was so hungry I couldn’t help eating ramen.
⇒ Describes an uncontrollable craving.

愛犬あいけんが死しんでしまって、悲かなしくてしょうがないです。
My dog passed away, and I feel unbearably sad.
⇒ Expresses overwhelming grief.

〜てたまらない (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Used to express intense emotions, sensations, or desires that are so strong they feel unbearable.
Often used when conveying powerful feelings that well up from within, such as joy, sadness, pain, anxiety, or longing.

[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + たまらない
[A] い adjective て form + たまらない
[Na] な adjective + で + たまらない

[Examples]
国くにの家族かぞくに会あいたくてたまらないです。
I miss my family back home so much, I can’t stand it.

頭あたまが痛いたくてたまらなくて、会社かいしゃを休やすんでしまいました。
I had such a bad headache that I couldn’t help taking the day off work.

祖母そぼのことが心配しんぱいでたまらず、毎日まいにち様子ようすを見みに行いっています。
I’m so worried about my grandmother that I go check on her every day.

Although similar to “〜てしかたない,” “〜てたまらない” expresses a stronger emotion and a sense of being unable to endure it.
It can be used for both positive and negative feelings.

[Examples]
家族かぞくに会あいたくてしかたがないです。
I want to see my family so badly, I can’t stand it.

家族かぞくに会あいたくてたまらないです。
I want to see my family so much, I can’t help it.
⇒ Both are natural expressions, but “〜てたまらない” conveys a stronger and more urgent emotion.
　　
眠ねむくてたまらないから、少すこし昼寝ひるねするよ。
I’m so sleepy I can’t take it—I’m going to take a short nap.
⇒ Shows a state of overwhelming drowsiness that can’t be resisted.

昇格しょうかくして嬉うれしくてたまらなくて、家族かぞくや親戚しんせきに連絡れんらくしました。
I was so happy about my promotion that I couldn’t help telling my family.
⇒ Expresses uncontrollable joy.

〜てかなわない (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
This expression is used when the speaker feels annoyed, troubled, or irritated by something.
It strongly conveys that the situation is so unpleasant or frustrating that it’s unbearable.

[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + かなわない
[A] い adjective て form + かなわない
[Na] な adjective + で + かなわない

[Examples]
上司じょうしに書類しょるいのミスを嫌味いやみっぽく言いわれてかなわない。
My boss pointed out a mistake in my report with a sarcastic tone—it’s so frustrating.

隣となりの犬いぬがうるさくてかなわないです。
The dog next door is so noisy, I can’t take it.

仕事しごとが大変たいへんでかなわないよ。
Work is so overwhelming, I just can’t deal with it.

“〜てかなわない” is used only with negative situations, which is its key characteristic.
It expresses the speaker’s unbearable discomfort or frustration toward something.

[Examples]
子供こどもがずっと騒さわいでいて、うるさくてかなわない。
The kids won’t stop making noise—it’s so loud, I can’t stand it.
⇒ Expresses a strong sense of discomfort toward the noise.

部屋へやが蒸むし暑あつくてかなわないから、クーラーをつけよう。
It’s unbearably hot and humid in this room, so I’m going to turn on the air conditioner.
⇒ Describes an intolerable level of heat.

わたしにはこの香水こうすいの香かおりがきつすぎてかなわないです。
The smell of this perfume is way too strong for me—I can’t take it.
⇒ Indicates that the scent is overpowering and unpleasant.

Let’s Compare

Which of the following expressions is most appropriate in the situations below?

[Examples]
① 大好だいすきな漫画まんが家かの新作しんさくを早はやく読よみたくてしかたないです。
② 大好だいすきな漫画まんが家かの新作しんさくを早はやく読よみたくてたまらないです。
③ 大好だいすきな漫画まんが家かの新作しんさくを早はやく読よみたくてかなわないです。

The correct answers are ① and ②.
Both are natural expressions, but ② conveys a stronger and more intense feeling of desire that cannot be suppressed.

On the other hand, ③ is used when expressing discomfort or annoyance, so it is not appropriate for situations where you are looking forward to something.

What about the following case?

[Examples]
① あのときの後悔こうかいが思おもい出だされてしかたないです。
② あのときの後悔こうかいが思おもい出だされてたまらないです。

The correct answer here is ①.
In fact, “〜てしかたない” and “〜てたまらない” each tend to pair better with different kinds of expressions.
Words that describe involuntary emotions or reactions—like “思おもい出だされる (comes to mind),” “泣なける (feel like crying),” or “感動かんどうする (feel moved)”—are commonly used with “〜てしかたない.”
On the other hand, “〜てたまらない” is more suitable for strong internal feelings or desires that cannot be held back.

[Examples of involuntary expressions]
思おもえる (can’t help thinking)・思おもい出だされる (keeps coming to mind)・感かんじられる (can feel)・泣なける (feel like crying)・感動かんどうする (feel moved)・気きになる (can’t stop thinking about)

[Examples]
映画えいがのラストシーンが切せつなすぎて、泣なけてしかたなかったです。
The last scene of the movie was just too heartbreaking, and I couldn’t stop crying.

卒園そつえん式しきで子供こどもの成長せいちょうした姿すがたを見みて、感動かんどうしてしかたなかったです。
At the preschool graduation ceremony, I was so moved by how much the children had grown that I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

Summary

	Meaning	Positive / Negative	Difference
〜てしかたない	(Emotion, sensation, desire) Very strong feeling; can’t help but feel that way	Used for both positive and negative situations	Can be used with spontaneous expressions (e.g., “seems,” “makes me cry,” “I’m moved”).
〜てたまらない	(Emotion, sensation, desire) So strong that it feels unbearable	Used for both positive and negative situations	Expresses stronger and more urgent emotions than “〜てしかたない.” Not typically used with spontaneous expressions.
〜てかなわない	(From the speaker’s perspective) Annoying, troublesome, unpleasant	Used only for negative situations	Only used with negative content; expresses the speaker’s stress, discomfort, or frustration.

Similer Articles

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