Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 5: 10/17

～て止(や)まないNever cease to, Always, Sincerely, Greatly, From the bottom of one's heart

ほしくてやまない is also sometimes used

Structure

Verb［て］+ やまない

Details

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    Formal

  • Rare Kanji

    已まない

About てやまない

～てやまない is a formal construction that combines the て-form of a verb with the negative form of the う-Verb 止(や)む 'to cease', or 'to desist'. The literal meaning of 'to not stop (A)', or 'to not desist (A)' is often translated as 'to always (A)', or 'to (A) from the bottom of one's heart'. It is an expression that is used exclusively in relation to feelings and emotions.

Common words that may be partnered with やまない include 愛(あい) 'love', 敬愛(けいあい) 'love and respect', 願(ねが)う 'to wish for', 祈(いの)る 'to hope for', 望(のぞ)む 'to have ambitions for', 希望(きぼう) 'wish', 期待(きたい) 'anticipation', 尊敬(そんけい) 'respect', 信(しん)じる 'to trust', and several more. Either positive or negative emotions may be used.

Caution

As やまない emphasizes the continuation of something, てやまない will not be used with feelings that are temporary, such as (temporary) anger, or (temporary) disappointment.

  • 上司(じょうし)に子供(こども)や妻(つま)のことを悪(わる)く言(い)われて、腹(はら)が立(た)ってやまない。
    I was sincerely mad at my boss for saying such things about my wife and kids. (Unnatural Japanese)

Examples

--:--

    献辞(けんじ)：「愛(あい)してやまない妻(つま)と息子(むすこ)へ」

    Dedication: 'To my wife and son, whom I will always love.' (never cease to)

    スピーチ：「飢餓(きが)がこの世界(せかい)から駆逐(くちく)されることを、祈(いの)ってやみません。」

    Speech: 'I will never cease to pray for the eradication of hunger and starvation from this world.' (always・deeply・sincerely)

    小説(しょうせつ)：「彼(かれ)は人(ひと)を惹(ひ)きつけてやまない何(なに)かを持(も)っていると言(い)えるだろう。」

    Novel: 'One could say that he has something that greatly fascinates people.' (never cease to)

    どうして科学的(かがくてき)な証拠(しょうこ)もないのに幽霊(ゆうれい)を信(しん)じてやまない人(ひと)がこんなに沢山(たくさん)いるのかな…。

    I wonder why there are lots of people that never cease to believe in ghosts, despite there being no scientific evidence.

    賛辞(さんじ)：「友達(ともだち)としても人(ひと)としても心(こころ)の中(なか)に生涯(しょうがい)存在(そんざい)する尊敬(そんけい)してやまない人(ひと)でした。」

    Eulogy: 'She was a person I greatly respected throughout my life both as a friend and as a human being.' (never cease to)

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