Japanese grammar

What does ～切れない mean? Japanese grammar N3

～切れない means too much/many to finish ~ing; cannot ~ completely.

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N3
Structure	Vます形（drop ます）+ 切れない Vます形 + 切る（affirmative）
Romaji	kirenai
Meaning	too much/many to finish ~ing; cannot ~ completely

Forming it

Cannot count	数える → 数え切れない
Cannot finish	読む → 読み切れない

How to use it

The negative of 「～切る」: the quantity or degree exceeds one's capacity, so it can't be finished.

「～切れない」 = cannot finish doing: 「一晩では読み切れない」「食べ切れないほどの料理」.
The reason is always an excessive QUANTITY, not a lack of ability — that's the difference from 「～られない」.
Very common fixed phrases: 「数え切れないほど」 (countless), 「待ち切れない」 (can't wait any longer).

Examples

この本(ほん)は厚(あつ)くて、一晩(ひとばん)では読(よ)み切(き)れない。
This book is so thick I cannot finish it in one night.
空(そら)には数(かぞ)え切(き)れないほどの星(ほし)が出(で)ていた。
There were countless stars in the sky.

Keep in mind

Attaches to the ます stem.
The reason is quantity/degree, not a lack of ability.

Common mistakes

Wrong漢字(かんじ)が難(むずか)しくて、書(か)き切(き)れない。

Kanji is too difficult, so I can't write it.

Correct漢字(かんじ)が難(むずか)しくて、書(か)けない。

Lacking ability uses the negative potential form 「書けない」.
Wrong食(た)べる切(き)れないほど注文(ちゅうもん)した。

I ordered so much I couldn't finish it.

Correct食(た)べ切(き)れないほど注文(ちゅうもん)した。

It attaches to the ます STEM 「食べ」.

Exam tips

「切れない」 = too much to finish; lacking ability uses the potential form.

Related patterns

All N3 grammar →