Translation guide
Describes something so painful, difficult, or unpleasant that it cannot be tolerated. Japanese often uses adjectives like 耐えられない (taerarenai) or 我慢できない (gaman dekinai), but the natural choice depends on what is unendurable: physical pain, emotional distress, heat, noise, etc.
Expressing that a situation, feeling, or condition is too much to bear.
The most direct and common way to say 'unendurable'. It literally means 'cannot endure'. Used for physical pain, emotional suffering, or difficult situations.
この痛みは耐えられない。
This pain is unendurable.
His ignoring me is unendurable.
Means 'cannot stand/endure'. Slightly more emotional and often used for personal feelings of frustration or impatience.
この暑さは我慢できない。
This heat is unendurable.
彼の態度には我慢できない。
I can't stand his attitude.
Often used in the form 〜てたまらない to express an unbearable feeling or desire. It conveys that something is so intense you can't help it.
寂しくてたまらない。
I'm unbearably lonely.
歯が痛くてたまらない。
My tooth hurts unbearably.
A more literary or formal adjective meaning 'hard to endure'. Used in writing or formal speech.
耐え難い苦痛
unendurable pain
Specifically for physical discomfort like heat, cold, pain, or noise.
Pattern meaning 'cannot stay/keep doing' due to unbearable conditions. Attach to the て-form of a verb.
暑くて外にいられない。
It's so hot I can't stay outside.
うるさくて勉強していられない。
It's so noisy I can't keep studying.
Used with a noun indicating the source of discomfort. More direct than 〜ていられない.
この寒さに耐えられない。
I can't endure this cold.
When feelings like sadness, loneliness, or irritation become too much.
Expresses an uncontrollable emotional state. Often used with adjectives like 寂しい (lonely), 悲しい (sad), 嬉しい (happy).
会いたくてたまらない。
I miss you unbearably.
悲しくてたまらない。
I'm unbearably sad.
Similar to 〜てたまらない but slightly more literary or introspective. Often used with verbs of thinking or feeling.
彼のことが気になってならない。
I can't stop thinking about him; it's unbearable.
When someone's actions or a circumstance is intolerable.
Means 'unforgivable' or 'cannot tolerate'. Stronger moral judgment than 我慢できない.
彼の裏切りは許せない。
His betrayal is unendurable/unforgivable.
Colloquial contraction of やっていられない. Expresses frustration that a situation is so bad you can't keep going.
こんな給料じゃやってられない。
I can't stand working for this salary.
耐えられない (taerarenai) is more about physical or objective inability to endure, while 我慢できない (gaman dekinai) often implies a subjective, emotional limit. For heat, pain, or noise, both are used, but 我慢できない can sound more personal and frustrated.
この騒音は耐えられない。
This noise is unendurable (physically).
この騒音は我慢できない。
I can't stand this noise (emotionally).
Avoid directly translating 'unendurable' as 耐えられない in all contexts. For example, 'unendurable heat' is more naturally 暑くてたまらない or 我慢できない暑さ rather than 耐えられない暑さ, though the latter is understandable.
痛みは耐えられなかった。
The pain was unendurable.
この暑さはたまらない。
This heat is unendurable.
彼の傲慢さには我慢できない。
I find his arrogance unendurable.