N1 て Expressions

Table of Contents

This page covers N1 て expressions. They are fairly easy with intuitive meanings.

てみせる – I’ll show you/I’ll prove to you
てかなわない – Can’t stand
てやまない – Can’t stop/Can’t help but..

てみせる

I’ll show you/Prove to you
Verb て + 見せる

てみせる means “I’ll show you that I will”. It is used to emphasize the definiteness of a statement.
It’s sort of like saying “I promise/I’ll prove it to you”.
Most appropriate if you are doubted about doing/being capable of something.

*てみせる technically has 2 meanings: “Show” and “Strong determination to do”. (Source)

Can be used with words like 絶対

Examples

あなたを絶対に幸せにして見せる
I’ll definitely make you happy.
自分で問題を解決して見せます.
I’ll show you I can fix the problem.
N1を合格して見せる
I’ll prove to you can I pass N1.
仕事の効率を上げて見せる
I’ll show you I will increase in work efficiency.

てかなわない

Can’t stand
Verb/Adjective て + かなわない
な Adjective + では + かなわない

てかなわない means “Can’t stand”.
Used for annoying things or things that make you mad.

May appear as てはかなわない, especially with passives.

*かなわない comes from かなう a word meaning something like “Tolerate, bear, to compete with, compare to”. It may still have this original meaning, especially as にかなわない

Examples

隣がうるさくてかなわない
Next door is so noisy I can’t stand it.
家は寒すぎてかなわない
The house is so cold I can’t stand it.
かれは女子にだけ優しくてかなわない
I can’t stand the fact he’s only nice to girls.
学校が静かではかなわない
I can’t stand the school being so quiet.
全てを僕に押し付けられてはかなわない
I won’t put up with everything being pushed off to me.

てやまない

Can’t help but/Can’t stop
Verb て + かなわない

てやまない means “Wont’ stop doing X” or “Can’t help but do X”.
Commonly used for hopes, dreams, feelings, and expectations.

A very common phrase is 願ってやまない.

Examples

親は子供を期待してやまない
Parents can’t help but have expectations for their children.
先生は子供を注意したり、説教したりしてやまないものだ。
Teachers just can’t help but warn and lecture children.
彼女の幸せを願ってやまない
I won’t stop/can’t help but hope for her happiness.
困った人に手を差し伸べてやまない
I can’t help but reach out my hand to people in need.