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

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

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.
  • 私(わたし)が愛(あい)してやまない犬(いぬ)が急(きゅう)に体(からだ)を壊(こわ)したから心配(しんぱい)でしょうがない。
    The dog that I love from the bottom of my heart got sick suddenly, so I am worried.
  • あんなことを親(おや)にさせてしまって後悔(こうかい)してやまない。
    I never cease to regret letting my parents do that for me.
  • 1日(にち)も早(はや)く普通(ふつう)の生活(せいかつ)に戻(もど)れる様(よう)に祈(いの)ってやみません。
    I will never cease to pray for them to be able to return to their normal lives as soon as possible.
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.'

  • 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.'

    Expressions like 生涯, ずっと, and 一生 can be used for more emphasis.

  • スピーチ：「今日(きょう)こちらにお集(あつ)まりになった皆様(みなさま)には、当社(とうしゃ)の製品(せいひん)紹介(しょうかい)をお楽(たの)しみいただけるよう願(ねが)ってやみません。」

    Speech: 'To all who have gathered here today, I sincerely hope that you will be able to enjoy the presentation of our new product.'

  • 記事(きじ)：「巨大(きょだい)なピラミッドの信(しん)じられないほどの大(おお)きさと美(うつく)しさは、建設(けんせつ)以来(いらい)何千(なんぜん)年(ねん)経(た)っても人(ひと)の心(こころ)を魅了(みりょう)してやみません。」

    Article: 'Despite thousands of years passing since their construction, the incredible size and beauty of the great pyramids will never cease to capture the hearts of people.'

  • 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.'

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