～てならない

Very, Extremely, Can't help but do

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

てならない is a construction made up of the て-form of a verb or adjective (で for な-Adjectives), and the negated form of the う-Verb なる, 'to become'. This expression describes the word that is attached to it as being 'extremely (A)', or that one 'can't help but do (A)'.
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(きのう)は徹夜(てつや)して勉強(べんきょう)してたから、眠(ねむ)くてならない。
I was up all night studying yesterday, so I'm extremely sleepy.
愛知県(あいちけん)の夏(なつ)は暑(あつ)くてならない。
Summer in Aichi prefecture is extremely hot.
ここ５年間(ねんかん)娘(むすめ)と連絡(れんらく)がつかないから、心配(しんぱい)でならない。
I can't help but to feel worried because I haven't heard from my daughter in 5 years.

Caution - In addition to being spontaneous and uncontrollable, (A) will almost always be something that is ongoing, rather than just being momentary.

彼女(かのじょ)はいつも僕(ぼく)に嘘(うそ)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(まんが)はつまらなくてならない。
This manga is extremely boring. (Momentary feeling, unnatural Japanese)

Synonyms

Examples

詐欺(さぎ)にあった気(き)がしてならない。
I can't help but feel it was a scam.
日本(にほん)に来(き)てから、家族(かぞく)に会(あ)えず、寂(さび)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(こん)週末(しゅうまつ)の同窓会(どうそうかい)に行(い)けないので、残念(ざんねん)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(むだ)に思(おも)えてならない。
I cannot help but think that that collection is worthless.
サイレンが鳴(な)り止(や)まないから、心配(しんぱい)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
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  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]

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- 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!