“〜totemo 〜nai・〜totemo ja nai ga”: There's No Way I Can 〜 [JLPT N2]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

Stressing that under those circumstances, doing something is simply impossible.

“〜totemo 〜nai・〜totemo ja nai ga”: There's No Way I Can 〜

When 「とても」 is paired with a negative, it means “there's no way I can 〜, simply can't 〜” (under those circumstances, it's simply impossible). E.g. 「この仕事量は、今日中にはとても終わらない」 (this workload simply can't be finished today), 「量が多すぎて、とても食べきれない」 (it's too much, there's no way I can finish eating). The intensified form is 「とてもじゃないが〜ない」 (there's really no way to…, stronger): 「とてもじゃないが、間に合わない」 (there's really no way to make it). ⚠️ Note: 「とても」 with an affirmative = very (high degree); with a negative = there's no way — entirely different!

🧠 Core nuance: under these circumstances, no matter how hard, it can't be done

The core is stressing that something simply can't be done under some circumstance: 「とても」 originally marks a high degree (very), but with a negative it shifts to ‘no matter what, it can't reach that level → simply can't be done' (とても終わらない = can't possibly finish, とても無理だ = simply impossible). It stresses the subjective helplessness of ‘absolutely can't.' The intensified colloquial form 「とてもじゃないが(ない)」 further highlights ‘there's really no way to…' (とてもじゃないが我慢できない = I really can't stand it). ⚠️ Key: とても with a negative = no way; with an affirmative = very, told by what follows. Close to 「どうしても〜ない (lack of means)」, but とても more stresses ‘can't reach the level at all.'

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• この仕事量では、今日中にはとても終わらない。(With this workload, there's no way to finish today.) — no way
• 料理の量が多すぎて、とても食べきれない。(The dishes are too much, there's no way to finish.) — 〜きれない
• こんな高い物、とても買えない。(Something this expensive, there's no way I can buy it.) — can't
• とてもじゃないが、その条件は受け入れられない。(There's really no way to accept those terms.) — intensified
• 締め切りまであと1時間?とてもじゃないが間に合わないよ。(An hour till the deadline? There's really no way to make it.) — intensified

🔄 Compare: とても〜ない vs とても(affirmative) vs どうしても〜ない vs なかなか〜ない

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Affirmative/negative: とても with a negative = no way; with an affirmative = very — opposite, told by what follows!
2. とてもじゃないが needs a negative: the intensified form is still followed by a negative (とてもじゃないが〜ない).
3. Difference from どうしても: とても stresses can't reach the level; どうしても stresses no method, lack of means.
4. Often with きれない/られない: とても食べきれない, とても信じられない.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「とても」 with a negative means “there's no way I can 〜, simply can't 〜” (simply impossible under the circumstances: too much to finish, too expensive to buy, can't make it). The intensified 「とてもじゃないが〜ない」 is stronger (there's really no way to…). ⚠️ Note とても with an affirmative = very (high degree); with a negative = no way — opposite, told by what follows! Distinguish from 「どうしても〜ない (lack of means), なかなか〜ない (slow progress)」: とても stresses absolutely can't reach the level. A must at N2.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N2: とても ＋ negative = there's no way I can 〜 (can't reach the level); intensified とてもじゃないが〜ない.
• Core trap: とても with a negative = no way; with an affirmative = very — opposite!
• Distinction: とても〜ない (can't reach the level) vs どうしても〜ない (lack of means) vs なかなか〜ない (slow progress).

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「この仕事量は、今日中には___終わらない。」（怎麼也做不完）

(A) とても　(B) とっくに　(C) せっかく　(D) いまにも

Q2. 「とても」が否定と使われると?

(A) 怎麼也〜不了（實在無法）

(B) 非常〜（程度高）

(C) 偶爾

(D) 馬上

Q3. 「とても食べきれない」の意味は?

(A) 怎麼也吃不完（量太多）

(B) 非常好吃

(C) 很想吃

(D) 已經吃完

Q4. 「とてもじゃないが」の用途は?

(A) 加強的口語形（實在是〜不了）

(B) 表示讚美

(C) 表示感謝

(D) 表示命令

Q5. 用法が正しいのは?

(A) とても間に合わない。　(B) とても間に合う(否定の意味で)。

(C) とてもじゃないが終わる(肯定)。　(D) とてもおいしくない(怎麼也の意味)。

答案解析

1. (A) とても ── 怎麼也做不完。

2. (A) ── 配否定＝怎麼也〜不了。

3. (A) ── 怎麼也吃不完。

4. (A) ── 加強的口語形。

5. (A) ── 「とても間に合わない」(配否定)正確。