日本語道場
Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2
N2
~てならない
~te naranai
can't help feeling
When to use it
Use ~てならない in written or formal spoken Japanese to say that a feeling or impression keeps welling up and you can't suppress it — typically 思えてならない, 気がしてならない, 残念でならない. It suits reports, emails and speeches where you want to convey strong personal conviction or regret without sounding emotional or colloquial. Compared with ~てたまらない (physical urges, casual) it is more literary and limited to inner feelings and spontaneous perceptions.
Formation
Examples
I can't help feeling the client's response is unnatural.
I can't help regretting that we pulled out of that project.
Something about this quarter's figures worries me no end.
I can't shake the feeling the price cut was premature.
I can't stop wondering about his silence at the negotiation.