許せない
yurusenai
The English word unforgivable is expressed in Japanese as 許せない (yurusenai).
The phrase is used to express the state of being not forgivable.
Meaning: not forgivable (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 許せない is used to express a personal feeling of being unable to forgive, the more formal adjective 許しがたい is used to describe an act or situation as objectively unforgivable. For very informal emphasis on one's feelings, you can use 許さねえ or 許せん to express strong disapproval.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, use 許し難い or 許しがたい. In very informal speech, 許さねえ and 許せん are used to emphasize feelings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the adjective 許せない into a noun phrase meaning 'an unforgivable thing' or 'an unforgivable act', add the particle こと after it to form 許せないこと.
How do you pronounce it?
yurusenai
Did you know?
- In Japanese media, saying 許せない often accompanies a specific physical gesture, such as clenching a fist or grinding the teeth, to signal a turning point in a character's resolve.
- The informal version 許さねえ replaces the 'ai' sound with 'ee', a linguistic trait common in 'edokko' or old Tokyo dialect to signal toughness or defiance.
- The root verb 許す is used for both 'to forgive' and 'to permit' or 'to allow'. Therefore, depending on the context, saying something is 'unforgivable' can sometimes imply that a certain behavior is strictly prohibited or disallowed by social rules.
Examples in context
- 彼の行為は許し難いです。His actions are unforgivable.
- その悪行は絶対許せません。I absolutely cannot forgive such misbehavior.
- あいつの裏切りは許さねえ！I won't forgive their betrayal!
- こんなことをするなんて許せん！I can't forgive you for doing something like this!
- あんな嘘は許せない。Anna uso wa yurusenai.I can't forgive such a lie.
- 親友を裏切るのは許せないことだ。Shinyuu o uragiru no wa yurusenai koto da.Betraying a best friend is unforgivable.
- 彼の態度は絶対に許せない。Kare no taido wa zettai ni yurusenai.His attitude is absolutely unforgivable.
Example conversation
Misaki tells Hiroto about a friend's betrayal.
- 美咲 Misaki親友に秘密をバラされたの。Shinyū ni himitsu o barasareta no.My best friend revealed my secret.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれはひどいね。信じられないよ。Sore wa hidoi ne. Shinjirarenai yo.That's terrible. I can't believe it.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に許せない気持ちなの。Hontō ni yurusenai kimochi nano.I feel it's truly unforgivable.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲がそう思うのもわかるよ。Misaki ga sō omou no mo wakaru yo.I understand why you feel that way, Misaki.
