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

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「量が多すぎてとても食べきれない」 — paired with a negative, とても flips to “no way I can.”

「この値段、とてもじゃないが買えない」 — no way, however you look at it

Seeing an astronomically-priced house, 「この値段、とてもじゃないが買えない」 (at this price, there's no way I could buy it) — 「〜とても〜ない・〜とてもじゃないが」 = can't possibly ～, simply can't ～, stressing “in that situation, one absolutely cannot do it.” Interestingly, 「とても」 with an affirmative is “very ～,” but with a negative it becomes “simply cannot.” This guide covers this negative use, the reversal from the affirmative 「とても = very,」 and that 「とてもじゃないが」 is an emphatic colloquialism.

Core: とても ＋ negative = can't possibly ～

When 「とても」 is followed by a negative/impossibility, it doesn't mean “very” but “can't possibly ～, cannot by any means”:

• この量、一人ではとても食べきれない (this much, one person can't possibly finish).
• とても信じられない話だ (a truly unbelievable story).

The emphatic 「とてもじゃないが（〜ない）」 = “no way, simply can't,” colloquial, with emotion: とてもじゃないが、間に合わない (there's no way to make it in time).

Feel: “can't possibly ～, simply cannot ～” — the core is strongly negating possibility: “(however hard one tries/thinks,) one absolutely cannot do it.” It always takes a negative or impossibility form (〜ない・〜られない・〜きれない), foregrounding “completely impossible.”

Attachment & forms

See it in context

• 忙しくて、とても旅行なんて行けない。(So busy I can't possibly go on a trip.)
• こんな難問、私にはとても解けない。(A tough problem like this, I can't possibly solve.)
• あの態度は、とてもじゃないが許せない。(That attitude, there's no way I can forgive.)
• この状況で笑うなんて、とてもできない。(Laughing in this situation — I simply can't.)
• 給料だけでは、とてもじゃないが生活できない。(On salary alone, there's no way to live.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「とても」 with a negative = simply cannot, opposite of the affirmative 「とても = very.」 This is the key realization. The familiar 「とても」 is the affirmative “very, extremely” (とてもおいしい = very tasty, とてもきれい = very pretty). But when 「とても」 is followed by a negative/impossibility form, the meaning completely changes — to “can't possibly ～, simply cannot”: とても払えない (can't possibly pay, not “very can't pay”), とても信じられない (truly unbelievable). So the same 「とても,」 with an affirmative is “very,” with a negative is “simply cannot” — judged by whether an affirmative or negative follows. Seeing 「とても ＋ 〜ない,」 don't render it “very not ～” — render it “can't possibly ～, simply cannot ～.” (This is like 〈なかなか〉's affirmative/negative difference.)

② It must take a negative/impossibility form; can't stand alone with an affirmative in this sense. This “simply cannot” use must pair with a negative or impossibility form (〜ない・〜られない・〜きれない・〜そうにない). Its function is to strongly negate possibility, so without a negative it doesn't hold: ○ とても間に合わない (can't possibly make it) / × とても間に合う (for “can't possibly make it” is wrong — this becomes the affirmative “very much makes it,” opposite meaning). To express “simply cannot ～,” 「とても」 must be followed by a negative. Mnemonic: とても ＋ negative = simply cannot (without the negative it reverts to “very”).

③ 「とてもじゃないが」 is the emphatic colloquial version, with emotion. 「とてもじゃないが（〜ない）」 (also 「とてもじゃないけど」) is the emphatic, colloquial version of 「とても〜ない,」 meaning “no way ～, simply cannot ～,” with strong emotion (exasperation, refusal, being fed up): とてもじゃないが、やってられない (there's just no going on with this), とてもじゃないが、あの人とは付き合えない (there's no way I can associate with that person). It's stronger and more subjectively emotional than plain 「とても〜ない,」 the colloquial way to stress “absolutely impossible, simply can't stand it.” It too takes a negative. To strongly, emotionally say “no way, simply can't,” 「とてもじゃないが」 is vivid.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: とても〜ない／とてもじゃないが／なかなか〜ない／到底〜ない

💡 The key point in use

「〜とても〜ない・とてもじゃないが」 = can't possibly ～, simply cannot — three points: ① 「とても」 with a negative = simply cannot — opposite of the affirmative 「とても = very」 (とても払えない = can't possibly pay, not “very can't pay”), judged by the following negative; ② it must take a negative/impossibility form (〜ない・〜られない・〜きれない); without the negative it reverts to “very”; ③ 「とてもじゃないが」 is the emphatic colloquial version — emotionally saying “no way, simply can't” (とてもじゃないが無理). This 「とても」's affirmative/negative reversal is the same trap type as 〈なかなか〉 — judge by whether the following is affirmative or negative. To strongly express “(however you think/try) absolutely cannot,” use 「とても〜ない,」 and add emotion with 「とてもじゃないが.」

❓ Questions you might have

Q: Isn't 「とても」 ‘very'? Why is 「とても払えない」 ‘can't possibly pay'?

Because 「とても」 means different things with an affirmative vs a negative — its two sides. With an affirmative = very, extremely (strong degree): the familiar use, とてもおいしい (very tasty), とてもうれしい (very happy), とてもきれい (very pretty). With a negative/impossibility form = can't possibly ～, simply cannot (strongly negating possibility): when 「とても」 is followed by a negative or impossibility form (〜ない・〜られない・〜きれない), the meaning becomes “cannot by any means, simply impossible”: とても払えない (can't possibly pay — not “very can't pay”), とても信じられない (truly unbelievable), とても間に合わない (can't possibly make it), 一人ではとても食べきれない (one person can't possibly finish). Here 「とても」 stresses the degree of “that negative/impossibility” — “(however hard one tries or thinks,) one absolutely cannot ～.” So the test is simple: see whether an affirmative or negative follows 「とても」 — affirmative (おいしい・きれい) = “very”; negative (払えない・できない) = “simply cannot.” Seeing 「とても ＋ 〜ない,」 just read it as “can't possibly ～, simply cannot ～,” don't mistranslate as “very not ～.” This “same adverb, different meaning with affirmative/negative” is the same principle as 〈なかなか〉 (なかなかいい = quite good / なかなか来ない = just won't come).

Q: What's the difference between 「とても〜ない」 and 「とてもじゃないが」?

Same meaning (both “simply cannot ～”), differing in degree of emphasis and register. 「とても〜ない」 = can't possibly ～, simply cannot: the basic form, strongly negating possibility, usable in speech or writing: この問題は私にはとても解けない (I can't possibly solve this problem), とても信じられない (truly unbelievable). 「とてもじゃないが（〜ない）」 = no way, simply can't (more emphatic, more colloquial, with emotion): the emphatic, colloquial version of 「とても〜ない」 (also 「とてもじゃないけど」), with a stronger, more subjectively exasperated/fed-up emotion: とてもじゃないが、この給料じゃ生活できない (on this salary there's no way to live), とてもじゃないが、あんな人とは働けない (there's no way I can work with that kind of person). It inserts 「じゃないが (= ではないが)」 between 「とても」 and 「ない,」 strengthening the tone, with the emotional venting of “(let me tell you,) this is truly impossible.” Test: neutrally say “simply cannot” → とても〜ない; emotionally, strongly say “no way, simply can't stand it” → とてもじゃないが. E.g. objectively 「とても終わらない (can't possibly finish)」 uses とても〜ない; emotionally complaining 「とてもじゃないが、やってられない (there's just no going on with this)」 uses とてもじゃないが. The latter is more colloquial and emotionally charged, fitting strong exasperation or refusal.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この仕事量は、今日中には___終わらない。」(there's no way to finish it)

(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) Can't possibly ~ (truly unable)

(B) Very ~ (high degree)

(C) Occasionally

(D) Right away

Q3. 「とても食べきれない」の意味は?

(A) Can't possibly finish eating it (too much)

(B) Very delicious

(C) Really want to eat

(D) Already finished eating

Q4. 「とてもじゃないが」の用途は?

(A) An emphatic colloquial form (really can't ~)

(B) Expresses praise

(C) Expresses gratitude

(D) Expresses a command

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(affirmative)。　(D) とてもおいしくない(in the sense of 'no way')。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) とても ── there's no way to finish it.

2. (A) ── with a negative ＝ can't possibly ~.

3. (A) ── can't possibly eat it all.

4. (A) ── an emphatic colloquial form.

5. (A) ── 「とても間に合わない」 (with a negative) is correct.