【JLPT N2 Grammar】〜てはいられない（~tewairarenai）

2020年4月22日 2024年9月19日

Explanation：〜てはいられない

Meaning
"このまま〜し続つづけることはできない"

Used to express the feeling that the speaker cannot afford to remain idle or inactive. It implies that the situation or urgency compels the speaker to take action immediately, rather than staying in their current state.

Form
V（te form） + （は）いられない

Points

Sense of Urgency: Indicates that the speaker feels pressured to act and can't stay passive or relaxed.
Inability to Remain Idle: The speaker cannot maintain their current state or continue what they are doing.
Strong Will: The phrase is often used when the speaker is motivated or determined to do something right away.

JLPT Level
N2

Sample sentenes

もう、３０分ぷんも待まっているし、これ以上待いじょうまってはいられないよ。
I've already been waiting for 30 minutes, I can't wait any longer.

レポートの締しめ切きりが近ちかいので、ゆっくり休やすんではいられない。
The deadline for the report is approaching, so I can't afford to rest leisurely.

危あぶないすぎて、見みていられないよ。私わたしが切きるから包丁ほうちょうかして！
It's too dangerous, I can't watch. Give me the knife, I'll do the cutting!

友達ともだちがいじめられているのを見みて、黙だまってはいられなかった。
I couldn't stay silent when I saw my friend being bullied.

若わかい人ひとに、負まけてはいられないと80歳さいの祖父そふが中国語ちゅうごくごの勉強べんきょうを始はじめた。
My 80-year-old grandfather started studying Chinese because he couldn't afford to lose to young people.

私わたしももう大人おとななので、いつまでも親おやに頼たよってはいられません。
I'm an adult now too, so I can't rely on my parents forever.

Vocabulary

Japanese		English
包丁	ほうちょう	kitchen knife
頼る	たよる	to rely on