とても～ないtotemo nai“cannot possibly; not at all able to”

とても～ない means cannot possibly; not at all able to. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to strongly say that something is impossible or beyond ability.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to strongly say that something is impossible or beyond ability, とても～ない is a useful pattern to learn.

What does とても～ない mean?

Use とても～ない when you want to strongly say that something is impossible or beyond ability.

Natural translations include:

• cannot possibly; not at all able to
• cannot possibly
• cannot possibly / not at all able to

How to form とても～ない

とても + potential/negative phrase

Examples of the pattern:

• とてもできない
• とても信じられない
• とても食べられない

When is とても～ない used?

Use とても～ない in situations like:

• explaining grammar in context
• answering JLPT reading questions
• making natural Japanese sentences

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

とても～ない example sentences

• この量は一人ではとても食べられない。 — I cannot possibly eat this amount alone.
• そんな話はとても信じられない。 — I cannot possibly believe such a story.
• 忙しくて、とても行けません。 — I am so busy that I cannot possibly go.
• この問題は難しくて、とても解けない。 — This problem is so difficult that I cannot possibly solve it.
• 彼の速さにはとても追いつけない。 — I cannot possibly catch up with his speed.

After reading each sentence, ask what job とても～ない is doing: strongly saying that something is impossible or beyond ability.

Nuance of とても～ない

The key nuance is a natural way to express “cannot possibly; not at all able to” with the right context and tone.

This matters because とても～ない does more than match a single English phrase. It shows how the speaker frames the condition, timing, example, role, intention, or contrast in the sentence.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with 全然～ない, it has a different focus and level of formality.

とても～ない vs 全然～ない

Both とても～ない and 全然～ない can appear in related situations, but they are different.

とても～ない:

• means cannot possibly; not at all able to
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

全然～ない:

• 全然～ない is general “not at all”; とても～ない emphasizes impossibility due to degree

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: この量は一人ではとても食べられない。 — I cannot possibly eat this amount alone.
• Compare: Try replacing it with 全然～ない and check whether the nuance still matches.

Common mistakes with とても～ない

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using とても～ない with the wrong form
• Confusing とても～ない with 全然～ない

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with とても～ない, then rewrite it with 全然～ない.

Is とても～ない on the JLPT?

Yes. とても～ない is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for とても～ない

• Write one sentence using とても～ない.
• Contrast とても～ない with 全然～ない.
• Make a JLPT-style sentence where the context makes the meaning clear.

Learning path for とても～ない

To learn とても～ない efficiently, review plain negation first, then practice stronger “no way / cannot” meanings with clear evidence.

1. First, make sure you can form とても～ない without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with 全然～ない, わけがない.
3. Finally, write sentences where the context proves something is impossible or unlikely; then check whether replacing とても～ない with ようがない changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• 全然～ない — not at all.
• わけがない — there is no way.
• ようがない — there is no way to.
• 切れない（きれない） — cannot finish doing; too much to complete.

Learn とても～ない with Hane

If you want to review とても～ない together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

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