Structure
Verb[て]+ ならない
[い]Adjective[て]+ ならない
[な]Adjective + で + ならない
Details
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Formal
使用域
硬い
Rare Kanji
成らない
About てならない
In most cases, てならない will be used when (A) is something that occurs naturally, such as feelings. Due to this, a more literal translation is close to 'to not be able to move on from (A)'. In this way, it just indicates that (A) is so intense that the person affected by it cannot do anything about it.
- 昨日は徹夜して勉強してたから、眠くてならない。I was up all night studying yesterday, so I'm extremely sleepy.
- 愛知県の夏は暑くてならない。Summer in Aichi prefecture is extremely hot.
- ここ5年間娘と連絡がつかないから、心配でならない。I can't help but to feel worried because I haven't heard from my daughter in 5 years.
- 彼女はいつも僕に嘘をつくからむかついてならない。I can't help but be extremely mad at her because she lies to me all the time. (Continuing feeling, natural Japanese)
- この漫画はつまらなくてならない。This manga is extremely boring. (Momentary feeling, unnatural Japanese)
Synonyms
ざるを得ない
Can't help doing, Have no choice but
Not studied yet
ないわけにはいかない
Can't not, No way to avoid
Not studied yet
てたまらない
Can't help but want to, Very, Extremely
Not studied yet
てしょうがない
Extremely, Very, Really, It can't be helped
Not studied yet
ことに
Extremely, Especially, To my ...
Not studied yet
ずにはいられない
Cannot help doing something, Cannot resist doing something
Not studied yet
Adj限りだ
extremely, really, very, as ... as one can be
Not studied yet
Examples
詐欺にあった気がしてならない。
I can't help but feel it was a scam.
日本に来てから、家族に会えず、寂しくてならない。
Since coming to Japan, I haven't been able to see my family and can't help but feel lonely.
今週末の同窓会に行けないので、残念でならない。
Since I can't go to my class reunion this weekend I can't help but feel disappointed.
あんなコレクションは無駄に思えてならない。
I cannot help but think that that collection is worthless.
サイレンが鳴り止まないから、心配でならない。
I am extremely worried because that siren won't stop ringing.
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~てならない
Mojisuke
Breakdown, comparisons and examples
日本語教師のN1et
Contrasting 〜てならない、〜てしょうがない and 〜てたまらない
Japanese StackExchange
~てならない
日本語の森 [video]
Offline
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
219
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てならない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (7 in total)
ljoekelsoey
About 2 years ago
@s1212z , did you ever find if this was completely interchangeable or not?
s1212z
About 2 years ago
It would need to be 気にせずにはいられない but the が is locked here as part of the example, otherwise I believe it would be interchangeable.
mrnoone
About 2 years ago
@ljoekelsoey @s1212z
To be honest, I would stick to てならない in this example.
ずにはいられない is generally used in contexts when one wants to do something so bad that they cannot control themselves. Expresses strong impulse.
I would say that average Japanese would not really understand what one means by:
詐欺にあった気にせずにはいられない。てならない is more generic.
詐欺にあった気がしてならない。I hope it helps,
Cheers!
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