N3177/219

考えられない

V-られる (potential) + ない negative form

Meanings

unthinkable
inconceivable
unimaginable
cannot imagine

About this pattern

Explanation

考えられない is the negative potential form of 考える, meaning “cannot imagine” or “unthinkable.” It is used when something is so unlikely, surprising, or beyond one's ability to conceive that one cannot even picture it. It often appears in contexts like personal beliefs, possibilities, or explanations that seem unbelievable. Note that in everyday speech, people also use そんなことは考えられない or 考えられないくらい to intensify the sense of impossibility.

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Example sentences

こんな難題は私には考えられない。

I can't imagine such a difficult problem.

彼がそんなことをするなんて、考えられない。

I can't imagine him doing such a thing.

世界が急にそんな風に変わるとは、考えられない。

I can't imagine the world changing like that suddenly.

あの人が真犯人だとは、考えられない。

I can't imagine that person being the real culprit.

Related patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

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More N3 patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

while; during; between; in the period of

During the period of / while; Before something changes or happens; Within the time when ... happens

ないうちに

before it happens; before doing something becomes true; before it ends/advances; before it’s no longer possible; while still in the state of not ...