Grammar
N2 verb-grammar

Unbearably 〜てたまらない

Meaning

"Unbearably ~", "~ beyond endurance".

Formation

Notes

A sensation or emotion too strong to bear — 暑くて, 眠くて, 会いたくて. It reports the speaker's own state; for someone else, add 〜ようだ or 〜らしい.

Examples

It is unbearably hot today.

Breakdown
today hot unbearably

I miss my family back home terribly.

Breakdown
home country family wanting to meet unbearably

I was unbearably sleepy during the lesson.

Breakdown
during class sleepy unbearably

I cannot stop worrying about the exam results.

Breakdown
exam results being on one's mind unbearably

Waiting alone made me unbearably anxious.

Breakdown
alone wait anxious unbearably

⚠️ Often confused with

Cannot help feeling 〜てならない

"I cannot help feeling ~", "~ deeply".

Terribly 〜てしかたがない / 〜てしょうがない

"Terribly ~", "I cannot help ~" — the everyday version.

Cannot help but 〜ずにはいられない

"Cannot help but ~", "cannot stop oneself from ~".

Never ceasing to 〜てやまない

"Never cease to ~", "~ from the bottom of one's heart".

Cannot suppress 〜を禁じ得ない

"Cannot suppress ~", "cannot help feeling ~".