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〜てはかなわない

can't stand it if, it's too much

Verb て-form / い-adj くて + は + かなわない

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てはかなわない complains that something is unbearable, especially if it goes on: こう暑くてはかなわない, "I can't stand this heat".

The first half is an unpleasant situation, often repeated or ongoing: heat, rain that won't stop, constant overtime, being asked the same thing again and again. Passive verbs are common, because something is being done to you: 騒がれては, 聞かれては.

It's close to てはたまらない and てたまらない (N3), but more of a grumble. かなう means "to match, cope with", so it's literally "if it's like this, I can't cope".

Don't confuse it with てもかまわない (N4), "it's fine if".

Examples

  • こう暑あつくてはかなわない。

    I can't stand this heat.

  • 毎日まいにちこんなに残業ざんぎょうさせられてはかなわない。

    I can't take being made to work this much overtime every day.

  • 夜中よなかに騒さわがれてはかなわない。

    I can't put up with noise in the middle of the night.

  • こんなに雨あめが続つづいてはかなわない。

    I can't take any more of this rain.

  • 何度なんども同おなじことを聞きかれてはかなわない。

    It's too much being asked the same thing over and over.

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