GRAMMAR
〜にたえない ①
unbearable to
Explanation
NOTE
〜にたえない means unbearable to — something is too painful or unpleasant to do or endure.
あの記事はひどくて読むにたえない。
That article is so awful it is unbearable to read.
NOTE
It is formal. It often pairs with verbs of perception like 見る, 読む, or 聞く.
その映画は残酷で見るにたえない。
That film is so cruel it is unbearable to watch.
たえない comes from 耐える (to endure), so the sense is that one cannot endure the action.
NOTE
Attach にたえない to a verb in dictionary form to say the action is too unpleasant to bear.
STRUCTURE
V辞
にたえない彼の不満は聞くにたえない。
Kare no fuman wa kiku ni taenai.
His complaints are unbearable to listen to.
この小説は退屈で読むにたえない。
Kono shousetsu wa taikutsu de yomu ni taenai.
This novel is so boring it is unbearable to read.
その光景は悲しくて見るにたえない。
Sono koukei wa kanashikute miru ni taenai.
That scene is so sad it is unbearable to look at.
Practice exercises
1
あの番組はくだらなくて見るにたえない。
That program is so silly it is unbearable to watch.
Answer
るにたえない
2
彼の言い訳は聞くにたえない。
His excuses are unbearable to listen to.
Answer
にたえない
3
その手紙はつらすぎて読むにたえない。
That letter is too painful and is unbearable to read.
Answer
むにたえない
4
あの事件の映像は残酷で見るにたえない。
The footage of that incident is so cruel it is unbearable to watch.
Answer
にたえない
5
この騒音はひどすぎて聞くにたえない。
This noise is so awful it is unbearable to listen to.
Answer
にたえない
6
あの記事はくだらなくて読むにたえない。
That article is so worthless it is unbearable to read.
Answer
にたえない
7
彼の粗野な発言は聞くにたえないものだった。
His crude remarks were unbearable to listen to.
Answer
にたえない
8
その光景は悲しすぎて見るにたえない。
That sight is so sad it is unbearable to look at.
Answer
にたえない