「～てはいられない」Cannot Continue a Certain State

Explanation

～てはいられないてはいられない is a Japanese grammatical structure used to indicate that a certain situation cannot continue, or that immediate action is required due to an urgent or important matter. This grammar conveys a sense of urgency or crisis. It is formed by using the verb's te-form (て形) + はいられない.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb te-form + はいられない	Verb te-form + はいられない	Means "cannot continue..." and is often used to express the need to interrupt the current state or action due to an urgent situation or necessity.

Basic Usage

• This structure is commonly used to describe situations where a certain state cannot be maintained.

Examples

• 仕事しごとが予定よていより遅おくれている。だから、今度こんどの日曜日にちようびは、仕事しごとを休やすんではいられない。
• Shigoto ga yotei yori okureteiru. Dakara, kondo no nichiyoubi wa, shigoto o yasunde wa irarenai.
• The work is behind schedule. So, I cannot take a break this Sunday.
  

• 試験しけんが近ちかいので、遊あそんではいられない。
• Shiken ga chikai node, asonde wa irarenai.
• The exam is approaching, so I cannot keep playing.
  

• 緊急きんきゅうの連絡れんらくがあったので、ここで待まってはいられない。
• Kinkyuu no renraku ga atta node, koko de matte wa irarenai.
• I received an urgent message, so I cannot wait here.
  

Summary

～てはいられないてはいられない is a highly practical grammatical structure used to express the inability to continue a certain state due to an urgent or important situation. By mastering this grammar, you can more accurately convey a sense of urgency or crisis in Japanese.