GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜てはかなわない
Expresses acute distress at the prospect of a recurring situation that causes the speaker great inconvenience or harm.
Examples
毎晩工事の音で起こされてはかなわないので、建物の管理を担う会社に相談した。
I could not bear being woken by construction noise every night, so I consulted the company responsible for managing the building.
Words used
毎日同じ説明をさせられてはかなわない。
I cannot stand being made to give the same explanation every day.
Words used
予定を何度も変更されてはかなわない。
I cannot stand having the schedule changed again and again.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Follow a verb's te-form with
はかなわないto complain that having to endure or deal with that situation would be intolerable. - Basic usage:
毎日同じ説明をさせられてはかなわない。means that being made to give the same explanation every day would be intolerable.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- The burden expressed by a causative-passive form
説明をさせられるis a causative-passive form meaning being compelled to give an explanation.毎日同じ説明をさせられてはかなわないexpresses the burden of being made to give the same explanation every day.