ったらない / といったらない

beyond words, indescribably, extremely, unbelievably, too … for words, words cannot express

AI-generated

Structure

[i-adj] + ったらない [na-adj] + ったらない [noun] + ったらない [i-adj] + といったらない [i-adj 〜い → 〜さ] + といったらない [noun] + といったらない

Description

ったらない says something is so extreme that words fail: "unbelievably", "beyond words". It follows an adjective as it stands – the い stays, as in うれしい嬉しいったらない – or a noun, and its fuller form is といったらない.

、。

I passed the exam, and I'm indescribably happy.

、。

This movie is unbelievably boring.

、。

The wait was so long – the boredom was indescribable.

× 嬉しったらない → 嬉しいったらない

It reports your own reaction, more often irritation, embarrassment or boredom than joy. About the past it is ったらなかった.

。

I was so embarrassed I couldn't even describe it.

ったらない or といったらない

ったらない is casual and spoken. といったらない also fits in writing, and it is the usual one after a noun made from an adjective with さ: あつ暑さ, きたな汚さ, ふかい不快さ.

。

The heat in Tokyo in summer is beyond words.

。

You can't imagine how dirty his room is.

is a stronger, colloquial version, almost always a complaint; is its written form.

。

It's so noisy I can hardly stand it.

Examples

、。

I passed the exam, and I'm indescribably happy.

、。

This movie is unbelievably boring.

。

The heat in Tokyo in summer is beyond words.

。

I was so embarrassed I couldn't even describe it.

。

You can't imagine how dirty his room is.

、。

The wait was so long – the boredom was indescribable.

。

My first overseas trip was fun beyond words.

。

The discomfort of a packed train is beyond description.

。

That person's selfishness is something else entirely.

。

When my child came home safely, the relief I felt was beyond words.

、。

I was scolded by my boss in front of everyone – I can't express how frustrated I was.

。

The pressure before a deadline is indescribable.

References

ったらない・といったらないBunpro

ったら / といったら

ってば / ったら