【JLPT N1 Grammar】〜に忍びない（〜にしのびない / ~nishinobinai）

2020年4月25日 2024年10月7日

Explanation：〜に忍びない

Meaning
① 我慢がまんできない / 耐たえられない
②～するのは心こころが痛いたむ

① I can't bear it.
② It pains me to...

Used to convey that something is emotionally unbearable or too difficult to endure. It reflects a strong internal conflict, where the speaker finds it hard to bring themselves to perform an action due to feelings of discomfort, pity, or sorrow. This phrase typically appears in more formal or literary contexts, and it is often used when someone feels deep compassion or guilt about doing something.

Form
V（dictionary form）+ に忍びない

Points

Emotional Unbearability: "〜に忍びない" is used when the speaker feels they cannot bring themselves to do something because it is too painful or distressing emotionally.
Formal Tone: This expression has a formal, serious tone and is often found in literature, formal speeches, or written language.
Internal Struggle: The phrase emphasizes the speaker's internal emotional struggle to act, often due to compassion or a sense of sorrow.

JLPT Level
N1

Note
“忍ぶ”は我慢するという意味です。
The word '忍ぶ' means 'to endure' or 'to tolerate'.

Sample sentenes

この財布さいふはもうボロボロだけど、彼女かのじょがくれたプレゼントなので、捨すてるに忍しのびない。
Even though this wallet is tattered and worn, I can't bear to throw it away because it's a gift from her.

彼氏かれしが仕事しごとで疲つかれて寝ねているので、起おこすに忍しのびない。
My boyfriend is exhausted from work and sleeping soundly, so I can't bear to wake him up.

この服ふく、もう着きられなくなったけど、高たかかったので、捨てるに忍しのびない。
I can't bear to throw away this dress even though I can't wear it anymore because it was quite expensive.

部長ぶちょうが今いままでどれほどひどいことをしてきたか、語かたるに忍しのびない。
I can't bear to talk about all the terrible things my boss has done.

ペットが病気びょうきで弱よわっていく姿すがたは見みるに忍しのびない。
I can't bear to watch my pet grow weaker due to illness.

Vocabulary

Japanese		English
語る	かたる	to talk
姿	すがた	appearance