Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~ていられない (〜te irarenai)

~ていられない (〜te irarenai)

Short explanation:

Expresses that one cannot afford to do something; 'can't keep on', 'unable to continue'.

Formation:

Verb-て form + いられない

Examples:

こんなに忙しいのに、無理に遊んでいられない。
Konna ni isogashii noni, muri ni asonde irarenai.
I'm so busy that I can't afford to play around.
寒すぎて、外で待っていられない。
Samusugite, soto de matte irarenai.
It's too cold, I can't keep waiting outside.
この問題は重要だから、放っておいていられない。
Kono mondai wa juuyou dakara, houtte oite irarenai.
This issue is important, so we can't afford to ignore it.
彼女の態度が我慢できず、黙っていられない。
Kanojo no taido ga gaman dekizu, damatte irarenai.
I can't stand her attitude, so I can't keep silent.

Long explanation:

The ~ていられない grammar point is used to express a feeling of not being able to continue doing something or not being able to keep on with a certain state. It can be translated as 'can't keep on', 'unable to continue' or 'can't afford to' in English. The formation is the same for all verb types.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~ていられない (〜te irarenai)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~ていられない (〜te irarenai)

Grammar Point: ~ていられない (〜te irarenai)

Introduction

The grammar structure ~ていられない expresses an inability to do something continuously or to continue in a certain state. It combines the て-form of a verb with いられない, which is the negative form of the potential verb いられる (irareru), indicating that one cannot maintain a certain action or state.

Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning and Structure

  • Meaning: "Cannot continue to (verb)" or "cannot be (verb)ing."
  • Structure:
    • Verb (て-form) + いられない
    • (Full Form: Verb (て-form) + いる + ない)

Formation Diagram

+---------------+---------------+--------+
| Verb (て-form) | いる          | ない   |
+---------------+---------------+--------+

Detailed Explanation

  1. Base Verb: Start with a verb and convert it into its て-form.

    • Example: 話す (hanasu - to talk) → 話して (hanashite)
  2. Add いる: Attach いる (iru) to indicate the ongoing state.

    • Example: 話して + いる → 話している (hanashite iru - talking)
  3. Negative Form: Finally, convert to the negative form, changing いる to いられない (irarenai).

    • Example: 話している → 話していられない (hanashite irarenai - cannot continue talking)

Comparative Analysis

Comparison with Similar Grammar Points:

  • ~ている (〜te iru): This structure indicates an ongoing action (e.g., "I am talking" - 話している).
  • ~ていられる (〜te irareru): Indicates the ability to continue doing something (e.g., "I can continue talking" - 話していられる).
  • Differences:
    • While 〜ている emphasizes the action being performed, 〜ていられない emphasizes the inability to maintain that action.

Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

  1. Formal:
    • 会議中は、携帯電話を使っていられない。
    • (Kaigi-chū wa, keitai denwa o tsukatte irarenai.)
    • "I cannot use my mobile phone during the meeting."
  2. Informal:
    • 今、勉強していられないから、遊びに行くよ。
    • (Ima, benkyou shite irarenai kara, asobi ni iku yo.)
    • "I can't study right now, so I'm going out to have fun."
  3. Written:
    • 彼は長時間働いていられないので、休憩を取った。
    • (Kare wa chōjikan hataraite irarenai node, kyūkei o totta.)
    • "He could not continue working for a long time, so he took a break."
  4. Spoken:
    • 今は忙しくて、手伝っていられない!
    • (Ima wa isogashikute, tetsudatte irarenai!)
    • "I'm busy right now, I can't help you!"

Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese culture, the context of the conversation is crucial. Expressing that one cannot continue to engage in an action can imply a level of politeness or consideration for others' time and efforts. The phrase may be used to decline invitations or responsibilities without appearing rude.

Levels of Politeness

  • The formality of the phrase can be adjusted by changing the verbs and sentence structure around it (e.g., adding ます for more polite requests).

Idiomatic Expressions

  • A common expression using this grammar is:
    • 忙しくて、手が回らない (Isogashikute, te ga mawaranai), which translates to "I’m so busy that I can’t keep up."

Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

Frequent errors include:

  • Misapplying the て-form.
  • Confusing with the affirmative form 〜ている (te iru).

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Remember the structure "Can't do + continuing action" as "te + irarenai -> cannot continue".
  • Practice forming different verbs into て-form, then turning them into negative potential situations.

Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • Usage: Indicates inability to continue an action or state.
  • Structure: Verb (て-form) + いられない.
  • Cultural Relevance: Reflects politeness and consideration in Japanese society.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. What does ~ていられない mean?
  2. How do you form the negative potential of a verb using this structure?
  3. Can you give an example of a situation where you would use this grammar in a polite context?
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