～てたまらない

How to form it

• Verb (て-form) + たまらない
• い-adjective (くて) + たまらない
• な-adjective stem + で + たまらない

Register: Neutral; spoken and written

Explanation

Expresses a physical or emotional feeling so strong that the speaker can hardly bear it.

Describes the speaker's own sensation or emotion, such as thirst, joy or longing. It is not used for other people's feelings unless you add a hearsay form.

Examples

1. 嬉しくてたまらない。

   うれしくてたまらない。

   I'm so happy that I can hardly stand it.

2. 喉が渇いてたまらなかった。

   のどがかわいてたまらなかった。

   I was unbearably thirsty.

3. 彼女に会いたくてたまらない。

   かのじょにあいたくてたまらない。

   I long to see her so much that I can't stand it.

Compare with

• ～てならない: てならない is for feelings that rise by themselves, often thoughts and worries; てたまらない is for physical or strong sensations and desires.
• ～てしょうがない: てしょうがない is nearly the same and a little more casual.

Common mistakes

• Using it for another person's feelings, as in ×彼は嬉しくてたまらない. Use そうだ or ようだ.