Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 20/26

~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

  • Formal

  • 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.

Caution

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

Synonyms



Vocab Coverage

All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.

Examples

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 去年(きょねん)あなたと見(み)た紅葉(こうよう)が思(おも)い出(だ)されてならない。

    I can't help but remember the fall colors I saw with you last year.

  • この毛皮(けがわ)は暑(あつ)くてならない。

    This fur is extremely warm. (I can't help but feel...)

  • 明日(あした)の見学(けんがく)が楽(たの)しみでならない。

    I can't help but look forward to tomorrow's field trip.

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てならない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (11 in total)

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    I don’t think this works as a literal translation, the two parts aren’t linked in this fashion.

  • simias

    simias

    Yeah I noticed that dictionaries would have a separate item specifically for this use, but it’s quite funny as a result because it seems like the word says one thing and its opposite:

  • luxjp

    luxjp

    Hi, one of the sentences for てならない shows a tip that may be incorrect. The sentence in question is:

    血圧が高すぎて不安でならない。

    When filled with てたまらない (from this grammar point), Bunpro does not allow it, stating:

    てたまらない cannot be used with feeling (気がする) or thinking (思える) verbs.

    てならない seems to be the more appropriate or common, but I haven’t found a restriction like the one on this tip.

    What makes it slightly more confusing is that one of the sentences in the てたまらない grammar point is in fact […] 心配でたまらない. Why would 不安でたまらない be different?

    Other sources I’ve found online, all mention that てたまらない can be used with “unbearable” emotions and feelings, so either form should be fine.

    Sources:

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