immersionlog

到底〜ない

by no means, utterly (impossible)

到底 + potential negative / 〜ない

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到底 with a negative says that something is completely impossible, however you try: 一日でこの量は到底終わらない, "there's no way I can finish this much in a day".

It usually comes with a potential negative (できない, 信じられない, 払えない, 理解できない) or a verb of reaching, like 及ばない ("can't match") or かなわない ("no match for").

It's the formal equivalent of とても〜ない (N3). 全然 is casual and less about ability, so it sounds out of place in formal writing.

The kanji mean "reach the bottom": however deep you go, it won't happen. Don't use it with a positive verb.

Examples

  • 一日いちにちでこの量りょうは到底とうてい終おわらない。

    There's no way I can finish this much in a day.

  • 彼かれの説明せつめいには到底とうてい納得なっとくできない。

    I can't possibly accept his explanation.

  • そんな大金たいきんは到底とうてい払はらえない。

    I could never pay that kind of money.

  • 彼女かのじょの才能さいのうには到底とうていかなわない。

    I'm no match at all for her talent.

  • 到底とうてい信しんじられない話はなしだ。

    It's an utterly unbelievable story.

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