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N3

とても~ない

Not ~ at all, Cannot ~ at all

その考かんがえ方かたはとても理解りかいできない。

I cannot understand that way of thinking at all.

Explanation

「とても~ない」 means 'there's no way I can...'. 「とても」 usually means 'very', but followed by a negative potential (「~ない」, 「できない」) it means that no matter how hard you try it is impossible: the difficulty, size or conditions go far beyond your ability. There is a feeling of helplessness and giving up: 「こんな量はとても食べられない」 (I can't possibly eat this much).

Mixed up with

A trap in multiple choice: 「とても」 with a negative is not 'very not...' but 'absolutely impossible'.

「とても~ない」 is a big gap in ability or conditions, out of reach. 「どうしても~ない」 is 'however I try it doesn't work', or 'I just won't do it, whatever happens'.

Examples

  1. 彼かれはいつも嘘うそばかり言いうから、彼かれの言いうことはとても信しんじられない。

    He always just lies, so I cannot trust what he says at all.

  2. こんなに忙いそがしい日程にっていでは、とても観光かんこうできない。

    With a schedule this busy, there's no way I can go sightseeing.

  3. とても考かんがえられない。

    I cannot think of it at all.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N1 · Dec 2025, Q26N2 · Jul 2015, Q34N2 · Dec 2010, Q36