“〜ni taeru・〜ni taenai”: Can Withstand / Cannot Bear [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Affirmative and negative expressions of endurance.
“〜ni taeru・〜ni taenai”: Can Withstand / Cannot Bear
「(verb dict. form/noun) ＋ に耐える (にたえる)」 = “can withstand 〜, can bear 〜” (批判に耐える = withstand criticism, 鑑賞に耐える作品 = a work that bears appreciation); the negative direction has two forms: ① 「〜に堪えない (にたえない)」 = unbearable to 〜, can't bear to watch/listen (見るに堪えない = too painful to watch, 聞くに堪えない = too painful to hear); ② 「(emotion noun) ＋ に堪えない」 = overcome with 〜 (formally expressing strong emotion: 感謝に堪えません = deeply grateful, 感激の念に堪えない). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form/noun ＋ に耐える/に堪えない. 「耐える」 and 「堪える」 are interchangeable; 堪えない leans written.
🧠 Core nuance: can withstand (耐える) / unbearable, overcome (堪えない)
The core is the affirmation and negation of ‘endurance': ① に耐える — ‘can withstand, bear' (holding up to force/trial: 批判に耐える = withstand criticism, 長年の使用に耐える = endure long use, 鑑賞に耐える = bear appreciation); ② に堪えない has two uses: (a) ‘unbearable to …, can't bear to watch/listen' (too poor in quality to watch/listen: 見るに堪えない = too painful to watch, 読むに堪えない文章 = unreadable writing), (b) ‘overcome with …' (with an emotion noun, formally expressing strong feeling: 感謝に堪えない = deeply grateful, 喜びに堪えない = overcome with joy). ⚠️ Key distinction: (a)'s 「に堪えない」 takes a sensory verb (見る/聞く/読む) = unbearable, can't bear to; (b) takes an emotion noun (感謝/喜び/慚愧) = overcome, deeply. ⚠️ 「耐える」 leans physical/abstract endurance, 「堪える」 leans sensory/emotional, but they're often interchangeable. Connection: verb dict. form/noun ＋ に.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb dict. form/noun ＋ に耐える | can withstand, bear 〜 | 批判に耐える |
| sensory verb ＋ に堪えない | unbearable to 〜 (can't watch/listen) | 見るに堪えない |
| emotion noun ＋ に堪えない | overcome with 〜 (formal) | 感謝に堪えない |
💬 Example Sentences
- この建物は、大地震に耐えるように設計されている。(This building is designed to withstand major earthquakes.) — withstand
- 彼の作品は、十分に鑑賞に耐えるものだ。(His work fully bears appreciation.) — can bear
- あまりにひどい演技で、見るに堪えなかった。(The acting was so bad it was too painful to watch.) — unbearable to watch
- そのニュースは、聞くに堪えないほど悲惨だった。(The news was so tragic it was unbearable to hear.) — unbearable to hear
- 皆様のご支援に、感謝に堪えません。(For everyone's support, I'm deeply grateful.) — overcome (emotion noun)
🔄 Compare: に耐える vs に堪えない vs に当たらない vs がたい
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜に耐える | “can withstand, bear” | 批判に耐える |
| 〜に堪えない (sensory) | “unbearable to 〜 (can't watch/listen)” | 見るに堪えない |
| 〜に堪えない (emotion) | “overcome with 〜” (formal strong emotion) | 感謝に堪えない |
| 〜がたい | “hard to 〜” (hard to do) | 信じがたい |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- に堪えない's two senses: with a sensory verb (見る/聞く) = unbearable, can't watch; with an emotion noun (感謝/喜び) = overcome — don't confuse!
- に耐える = can bear: 批判/使用/鑑賞に耐える = can withstand, bear.
- Connect with に: verb dict. form/noun ＋ に耐える/に堪えない (✗ を耐える).
- Written, formal: に堪えない leans written, formal (感謝に堪えません for formal thanks).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「に耐える」 = can withstand, bear (批判に耐える, 鑑賞に耐える作品); 「に堪えない」 has two senses: with a sensory verb = unbearable, can't bear to watch/listen (見るに堪えない = too painful to watch); with an emotion noun = overcome (感謝に堪えない = deeply grateful, formal). ⚠️ The same 堪えない takes a sensory verb vs an emotion noun, with different meanings. 耐える/堪える are interchangeable; 堪えない leans written. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: verb dict. form/noun ＋ に耐える = can withstand, bear; に堪えない = unbearable (sensory, 見るに堪えない)/overcome (emotion, 感謝に堪えない).
- Core distinction: に堪えない with a sensory verb (unbearable, can't watch) vs with an emotion noun (overcome, formal).
- Connection: with に (✗ を); 堪えない leans written, formal.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「彼の演技はひどくて、見る___。」(too painful to watch)
(A) に堪えない (B) に耐える (C) に当たらない (D) に越したことはない
Q2. 「感謝___堪えません。」(I can't thank you enough — formal) Which particle?
(A) に (B) を (C) が (D) で
Q3. What does 「批判に耐える」 mean?
(A) can withstand criticism
(B) can't bear criticism
(C) won't criticize
(D) rejects criticism
Q4. What does 「見るに堪えない」 mean?
(A) too painful to watch (can't bear to keep watching)
(B) very enjoyable to watch
(C) wants to watch
(D) can't be seen
Q5. Which usage is natural?
(A) 鑑賞に堪える作品だ。
(B) 鑑賞を堪えない。
(C) 感謝に耐えない。
(D) 見るに耐えないだ。
Answer Key
1. (A) に堪えない ── 見るに堪えない = too painful to watch.
2. (A) に ── 感謝に堪えません = I can't thank you enough.
3. (A) ── can withstand criticism.
4. (A) ── too painful to watch (can't bear to keep watching).
5. (A) 鑑賞に堪える作品だ ── a work worth appreciating (に堪える = worth/withstand); correct usage.