やってられない

• Reading: やってられない
• Romaji: yatterarenai
• Pronunciation: /ja.t.te.ɾa.ɾe.na.i/

Meaning

I can't deal with this — an expression of frustration when a situation is too much to bear or continue.

The potential-negative form of やる (to do), やってられない literally means 'I cannot continue doing this.' It expresses frustration, exasperation, or the feeling that something is so unreasonable that you want to quit or walk away. Common in workplace complaints, dealing with unreasonable situations, or when patience has run out. Often shortened to やってらんない in very casual speech.

Examples

1. 毎日残業でやってられない、もう辞めたい。 Overtime every single day — I can't deal with this, I want to quit.
2. こんな暑い中外仕事とかやってられないよ。 Working outside in this heat? No way, I can't deal with that.
3. やってられないから今日はもう帰る。 I can't deal with this anymore, I'm going home for the day.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, workplace (informal), casual conversation

Tone: frustrated, exasperated

Do Say

• こんな給料でやってられないよ。 (I can't deal with this salary.)
• もうやってらんない、休憩しよう。 (I can't anymore, let's take a break.)

Don't Say

• 上司の前で「やってられない」は不満を直接ぶつけることになる (Saying yatterarenai in front of your boss directly expresses dissatisfaction)

Common Mistakes

• Using やってられない as a permanent statement — it usually expresses momentary frustration, not a final decision
• Not knowing the shortened やってらんない which is even more casual

Origin & History

From the potential-negative form of やっている (to be doing). This frustrated expression has been part of spoken Japanese for generations, commonly associated with workplace complaints and dealing with unreasonable situations.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-established expression, generational

Generation: All ages (especially working adults)

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan. A staple of workplace frustration vocabulary, often heard over drinks with colleagues.