N3184/219

切れない

V-stem + 切るV-stem + 切れない

Meanings

  • unable to finish
  • cannot complete
  • not able to finish completely
  • can't manage to finish before a deadline

About this pattern

Explanation

Cutting to completion. The pattern ~切る attaches to the stem of a verb to indicate doing something completely or to the extent that you can finish it. When you use ~切れない, it means you are unable to finish/complete the action. This is commonly used with actions that take time or have a limit, and it often implies a sense of effort, capacity, or constraint that prevents finishing. The form is most natural with transitive actions (e.g., write, eat, read) and expresses a partial completion or inability to finish within the given circumstances. Examples: - そのレポートは長すぎて、最後まで書き切れない。 → I can’t manage to finish writing the report until the end. - この皿の料理は多くて、全部食べ切れない。 → There is too much food on this plate; I can’t finish it all. - 今日のトレーニングは強度が高くて、全部やり切れない。 → The training is so strenuous that I can’t complete everything today.

Learn in context

Example sentences

そのレポートは長すぎて、最後まで書き切れない。

The report is too long; I can’t finish writing it.

この皿の料理は多くて、全部食べ切れない。

There’s too much food on this plate; I can’t finish it all.

今日の練習はハードで、すべてをやり切れない。

Today’s practice is hard, and I can’t finish everything.