
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.
毎日残業しては叶わない。
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.
こんなに暑くては叶わない。
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て
は叶わない毎晩夜遅くまで働いては叶わない。
Maiban yoru osoku made hataraite wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable working late into the night every evening.
隣で騒がれては叶わない。
Tonari de sawagarete wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable when they make noise next door.
毎日同じ話を聞かされては叶わない。
Mainichi onaji hanashi o kikasarete wa kanawanai.
It's unbearable being made to hear the same story every day.
毎日暑くて、外を歩いては叶わない。
Mainichi atsukute, soto o aruite wa kanawanai.
It is so hot every day that it is unbearable to walk outside.
隣の部屋がうるさくて、勉強しては叶わない。
Tonari no heya ga urusakute, benkyou shite wa kanawanai.
The room next door is so noisy that it is unbearable to try to study.
この靴は足が痛くて、履いては叶わない。
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
毎日残業をさせられては叶わない。
It's unbearable being made to work overtime every day.
Answer
させられては叶わない
2
夜中に電話をかけられては叶わない。
It's unbearable being called in the middle of the night.
Answer
は叶わない
3
こんなに長時間待たされては叶わない。
It's unbearable being made to wait for such a long time.
Answer
待たされては叶わない
4
彼に理由もなく嘘をつかれては叶わない。
It's unbearable being lied to by him without any reason.
Answer
ては叶わない
5
毎日みんなの前で叱られては叶わない。
It's unbearable being scolded in front of everyone every day.
Answer
ては叶わない
6
一つの失敗で全てを否定されては叶わない。
It's unbearable having everything denied because of one failure.
Answer
ては叶わない
7
朝からずっとうるさくては叶わない。
It's unbearable when it's noisy continuously from the morning.
Answer
ては叶わない
8
度重なる要求に応えさせられては叶わない。
It's unbearable being forced to comply with repeated demands.
Answer
ては叶わない