とても～ない
Cannot possibly do something
You’ll be able to emphasize that an action is far beyond what seems possible or manageable.
この高くて大きい木には、とても登れません。
kono takakute ookii ki ni wa, totemo noboremasen.
What do you think this sentence means?
There is no way I can climb this tall, massive tree.
Express that something is impossible or beyond capability
とても～ない pairs とても with a negative potential verb or impossible outcome to emphasize that doing something is completely beyond one's capability ("cannot possibly...", "simply cannot...").
こんなに難しい本は、とても読めない。
konna ni muzukashii hon wa, totemo yomenai.
I can’t possibly read a book this difficult.
一万円のランチなんて、とても払えない。
ichiman'en no ranchi nante, totemo haraenai.
I could never pay for a ten-thousand-yen lunch.
Place とても before a potential negative verb
Place とても before a potential verb in the negative form (～ない／～ません), or an adjective conveying an impossible evaluation.
こんなにたくさんの仕事を、今日中にはとても終わらせられない。
konna ni takusan no shigoto o, kyoujuu ni wa totemo owaraserarenai.
I cannot possibly finish this massive amount of work by the end of today.
とても～ない vs とても
With a positive word, とても just means “very”. With a negative potential, とても～ない means something is far beyond what you can do.
とても + negative, can’t possibly
この料理は、とても食べられない。
kono ryouri wa, totemo taberarenai.
I can’t possibly eat this dish.
Too much or too spicy: it is beyond me.
とても + positive, very
この料理は、とてもおいしい。
kono ryouri wa, totemo oishii.
This dish is very tasty.
Just intensifies an adjective.
こんなに重い冷蔵庫は、二人ではとても持ち上げられない。
konna ni omoi reizouko wa, futari de wa totemo mochiagerarenai.
There’s no way the two of us can lift a fridge this heavy.
百人分の名前なんて、一日ではとても覚えられない。
hyakunin bun no namae nante, ichinichi de wa totemo oboerarenai.
I can’t possibly memorize a hundred people’s names in one day.
「バンジージャンプ？怖くて、とてもできないよ。」
“banjii janpu? kowakute, totemo dekinai yo.”
“Bungee jumping? I’m too scared. I couldn’t possibly do it.”
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