てはかなわない

てはかなわない is a complaint: "I can't put up with this", or "it would be too much if". It follows the て-form of a verb, an い-adjective's くて, or で after a な-adjective or a noun. かなわない means "can't cope", and ては sets up the situation that causes it.

It belongs to everyday speech, not formal writing, and it has a slightly grown-up, grumbling sound. こう, こんなに and まいにち毎日 often come with it, because the complaint is about something that keeps happening.

Trouble from someone else

The cause is often another person, and the verb goes into the passive: you are on the receiving end.

てはかなわない or てたまらない

てたまらない says how strongly you feel: very hot, very hungry, dying to. てはかなわない says a situation is more than you will put up with. あつくて暑くてたまらない is "I'm terribly hot"; あつくては暑くてはかなわない is "this heat is too much".

Usage notes

These go beyond the full form.

ちゃかなわない

In casual speech ては shortens to ちゃ, and では to じゃ.

"It would be too much"

The situation can be one you fear rather than one you are in.