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Shirimono
GRAMMAR
〜ては叶わない
it's unbearable when
Explanation
NOTE

〜ては叶わない means it's unbearable when — a situation is too much for the speaker to put up with.

毎日まいにち残業ざんぎょうしてはかなわない
It's unbearable having to work overtime every day.
NOTE

It is formal and expresses a complaint. The speaker feels worn down by something they cannot endure.

こんなにあつくてはかなわない
It's unbearable when it's this hot.
叶わない here means cannot stand it, not cannot come true.
NOTE

With a verb, use the て-form and add は叶わない to describe the unbearable action.

STRUCTURE
V
は叶わない
毎晩まいばん夜遅よるおそくまではたらいてはかなわない
Maiban yoru osoku made hataraite wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable working late into the night every evening.
となりさわがれてはかなわない
Tonari de sawagarete wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable when they make noise next door.
毎日まいにちおなはなしかされてはかなわない
Mainichi onaji hanashi o kikasarete wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable being made to hear the same story every day.
毎日あつくて、そとあるいては叶かなわない
Mainichi atsukute, soto o aruite wa kanawanai.
It is so hot every day that it is unbearable to walk outside.
となり部屋へやがうるさくて、勉強べんきょうしては叶かなわない
Tonari no heya ga urusakute, benkyou shite wa kanawanai.
The room next door is so noisy that it is unbearable to try to study.
このくつあしいたくて、いては叶かなわない
Kono kutsu wa ashi ga itakute, haite wa kanawanai.
These shoes hurt my feet so much that it is unbearable to wear them.

Practice exercises

1
毎日まいにち残業ざんぎょうさせられてはかなわない
It's unbearable being made to work overtime every day.
Answer
させられてはかなわない
2
夜中よなか電話でんわをかけられてかなわない
It's unbearable being called in the middle of the night.
Answer
かなわない
3
こんなに長時間ちょうじかんたされてはかなわない
It's unbearable being made to wait for such a long time.
Answer
たされてはかなわない
4
かれ理由りゆうもなくうそをつかれてはかなわない
It's unbearable being lied to by him without any reason.
Answer
てはかなわない
5
毎日まいにちみんなのまえしかられてはかなわない
It's unbearable being scolded in front of everyone every day.
Answer
てはかなわない
6
ひとつの失敗しっぱいすべてを否定ひていされてはかなわない
It's unbearable having everything denied because of one failure.
Answer
てはかなわない
7
あさからずっとうるさくてはかなわない
It's unbearable when it's noisy continuously from the morning.
Answer
てはかなわない
8
度重たびかさなる要求ようきゅうこたえさせられてはかなわない
It's unbearable being forced to comply with repeated demands.
Answer
てはかなわない