Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 10: 12/20

～ては居(い)られない

Can't afford to, Unable to

Casual:, Verb[て] + ちゃいられない/,じゃいられない

Structure

Verb［て］+ はいられない
［い］Adjective［て］+ はいられない
［な］Adjective + では(1) + いられない
Noun + では(1) + いられない

(1) じゃ

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About てはいられない

てはいられない is a grammar pattern which consists of the conjunction-particle て, は, and the negated-potential form of the る-Verb いる 'to be'. Common translations include 'to be unable to (A)', and 'cannot afford to (A)'. The literal meaning of 'to not be able to be with (A)' just reflects the impossibility of the word that this structure is attached to.
This structure is almost exclusively seen with verbs, but may occasionally be seen with い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns as well.
  • 明日(あした)までに提出(ていしゅつ)しないといけないレポートがあるから、遊(あそ)んではいられない。
    I have an essay I need to submit by tomorrow, so I can't afford to hangout.
  • あと30分(ぷん)で家(いえ)を出(で)ないといけないので、のんびりご飯(はん)を食(た)べてはいられない。
    I have to leave the house in 30 minutes, so I am unable to relax and eat my food.
  • 午後(ごご)までに終(お)わらせるように先輩(せんぱい)に頼(たの)まれたから、休(やす)んではいられない。
    My senpai asked me to finish by this afternoon, so I can't afford to take a break.
The verb that てはいられない is connected to is often considered to be something that cannot continue on due to either some time-based or feeling-based limitation. In this way, it regularly has the nuance of '(A) cannot continue due to (B)', with the reason of (B) mentioned in another part of the sentence.
When appearing with い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns, the nuance will change slightly, and simply reflects the meaning of いられない itself in conveying that (A) 'cannot be', or is 'impossible' in some way. As always, ては will be replaced by では in the case of nouns and な-Adjectives.
  • 次(つぎ)の大会(たいかい)で勝(か)つには、こんな遅(おそ)くてはいられない。
    We can't afford to be this slow if we want to win the next tournament.
  • お父(とう)さんもいつまでも元気(げんき)ではいられないんだから、そろそろ健康(けんこう)に気(き)をつけな。
    Dad, you can't stay healthy forever, so you should start taking better care of yourself.
  • もうこんな会社(かいしゃ)の社員(しゃいん)ではいられない。
    I can no longer be an employee of this company.

Examples

  • 小野(おの):カラオケに行(い)こう！
    岩本(いわもと):すみません、明日(あした)の朝(あさ)までに数学(すうがく)の宿題(しゅくだい)を
    しなくちゃいけないから、カラオケしてはいられない。

    Ono: 'Let's go to karaoke!'
    Iwamoto: 'Sorry, I have math homework to finish by
    tomorrow morning so I can't afford to go to karaoke.'

  • 友達(ともだち)への自分(じぶん)の仕事(しごと)の愚痴(ぐち)：「また週末(しゅうまつ)上司(じょうし)に仕事(しごと)をさせられた。このままじゃいられない。転職(てんしょく)するつもりだよ。」

    Complaining to a friend about one's job: 'I have been forced to work on the weekend again by the boss. It cannot be like this. I plan to change jobs.'

  • 私(わたし)は一日(いちにち)たりとも日本語(にほんご)の勉強(べんきょう)なしではいられない。

    I can't afford to even go a day without learning Japanese.

  • 時間(じかん)がない。下書(したが)きしてはいられない。

    There is no time. I can't afford to make a rough draft.

  • 彼(かれ)は実績(じっせき)を上(あ)げています。負(ま)けてはいられません。

    He is raising his achievements. He can't afford to lose.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

てはいられない – Grammar Discussion

    There's currently no discussion for てはいられない
    Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

Join the Discussion