Japanese grammar

What does ～に堪えない mean? Japanese grammar N1

～に堪えない means cannot bear to…; deeply / intensely (emotion).

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N1
Structure	V辞書形 + に堪えない N (emotion) + に堪えない
Romaji	nitaenai
Meaning	cannot bear to…; deeply / intensely (emotion)

Forming it

Noun (emotion)	感謝 + に堪えない
Verb (see/hear)	見る + に堪えない

How to use it

Two meanings: (a) so bad it can't be watched/listened to; (b) an overflowing emotion (感謝に堪えない).

Meaning (a): 「見るに堪えない／聞くに堪えない」 = so bad it can't be watched/listened to. Only used with 見る・聞く・読む.
Meaning (b): 「感謝に堪えない／遺憾に堪えない」 = an overflowing emotion that can't be held back. Used with Sino-Japanese emotion nouns.
The opposite of meaning (a) is 「～に堪える」 (worth watching/listening to) — see the entry 「～に堪える」.

Examples

あの番組(ばんぐみ)は内容(ないよう)がひどくて見(み)るに堪(こた)えない。
That program is so bad it’s unwatchable.
皆様(みなさま)のご支援(しえん)には感謝(かんしゃ)に堪(こた)えません。
I am deeply grateful for everyone’s support.

Keep in mind

Meaning (a) only with 見る/聞く/読む.
Meaning (b) with an emotion noun.

Common mistakes

Wrongこの仕事(しごと)はするに堪(こた)えない。

This program is unwatchable.

Correctこの番組(ばんぐみ)は見(み)るに堪(こた)えない。

Meaning (a) is only used with the perception verbs 見る・聞く・読む.
Wrongうれしいに堪(こた)えない。

I am overjoyed beyond words.

Correct喜(よろこ)びに堪(こた)えない。

Meaning (b) uses an emotion NOUN (Sino-Japanese), not an adjective.

Exam tips

「に堪えない」 = (a) unwatchable/unlistenable (見る/聞く) / (b) overflowing emotion (感謝).

Related patterns

All N1 grammar →