Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 10: 2/22

に堪(た)えない
Cannot bear to, Cannot stand to, Too much to, Cannot go on doing, Cannot tolerate

Can be written as に堪えない、に耐えない

Structure
Verb + に堪えない
Adverb + に堪えない
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • にたえない is a phrase literally meaning "cannot bear to". It is used when one cannot look at/ listen to/read something because it is dreadful or in some way unpleasant (often brutal).
  • Affirmative form (にたえる) is used when something is worth doing. にたえない is also used (usually in the polite form, as に絶えません) with words expressing feelings to show their extreme degree 感謝にたえません (my deepest gratitude).
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くりやまさんの歌声(うたごえ)は酷(ひど)すぎて聞(き)くに堪(た)えなかった
Kuriyama-san's singing voice was so terrible that I couldn't bear to listen.
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このホラー映画(えいが)には正視(せいし)にたえない、すごく残虐(ざんぎゃく)なシーンが多(おお)い
In this horror movie, there are so many brutal scenes that I cannot bear to watch it.
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最近(さいきん)新聞(しんぶん)悪(わる)いニュースばかりが続(つづ)いているから読(よ)むに堪(た)えない
With all the bad news in the newspaper lately, I cannot bear to read it.
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