何の言葉14 ~きれない

Hi!

みんな、元気？😀

In between your never-ending to-do lists and busy life, I hope you are saving some time for yourself.

I know it can be difficult to keep being consistent when it comes to passion projects. (Trust us, we are regular fighters with procrastination 😂)

毎日やることがたくさんあるけど、趣味のために時間を作ることも大事だよ。
Even though we have a lot to do everyday, it's important to make time for our hobbies.

So, today's word is about not being able to finish things (but there are many interesting uses as you will find out!)

Meaning of ～きれない :

Verb(ますform） +～きれない means “can’t complete ~”, “unable to finish ~ until the end”.

・食べきれない = can’t finish all the food
・使いきれない = can’t use all of it
・覚えきれない = can’t memorize all the things

When to use ～きれない:

1. I can’t finish ~

For example,

・食べきれない・飲みきれない = I can’t finish eating / drinking all of it

・ポイントを使いきれない = I can’t finish using all the points

・3時間じゃ話しきれない = I can’t finish the conversation within 3 hours.

・文字では、この気持ちを伝えきれない = I can’t completely express this feeling with just words

・夢を諦めきれない = I can’t completely give up on my dream

2. I can’t keep on ~

For example:

・待ちきれない = I can’t wait* (This is a common way to say I’m so excited for ~)

3. A lot, countless

～きれない can also be used to describe a large amount. Usually in the case when we want to exaggerate, we add くらい or ほど at the end.

For example,

・数えきれないほどの星 = countless stars

・読み切れないくらいたくさんの本 = so many books that I won’t be able to finish reading

Similar English phrases:

“can’t completely ~”
“can’t finish ~”
“can’t keep on doing ~”
“can’t ~ enough”

 💡 I can't thank you enough!

「感謝してもしきれない」(kansha shitemo shikirenai) This is a set phrase that we often hear, which means “I can’t thank you enough”. You can say this when you were really helped and touched by someone’s action for you when you were in big trouble.

The chance to use this phrase is rare, eg. situations such as, someone helped you find your lost cat, or when you were (very) late for your flight and a friend gave you a ride.

For example, you can say it like this:

Here are some other common phrases for when you are deeply grateful towards someone:

感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。 Kansha no kimochi de ippai desu.

なんとお礼を言ったらいいか・・・ Nanto orei o ittara ii ka…

感謝の言葉もありません。Kansha no kotoba mo arimasen

このご恩は決して忘れません。Kono goon wa keshite wasuremasen.* (This can sound too exaggerating 😂)

１．数えきれないほどJLPTのテストを受けたよ。
　　I can’t count the number of times I took the JLPT exam.

２．このバブルティー、多すぎて飲みきれないかも。
　　I think I can’t finish this bubble tea because it’s too much.

３．来月の旅行が待ちきれない！楽しみ～！
　　I can’t wait for the trip next month! So excited~!

４．両親にはだめって言われたけど、留学の夢を諦めきれないんだ。
　　My parents said no, but I can’t completely give up my dream of studying abroad.

５．彼女は、使いきれないほどお金を持っているらしい。
　　I heard that she has more money than she can spend.

Similar Japanese phrases:

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