Grammar › N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

〜に堪える: worth doing; can bear

N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

Says something is good enough to be worth reading or watching, or able to endure something.

Verb dictionary form/noun + に堪える (also written 耐える). Positive meaning: 鑑賞に堪える (worth viewing). Usually seen in the negative: 読むに堪えない (too bad to read). Compare 〜に堪えない, which is about feelings.

Examples

この作品さくひんは、現代げんだいでも鑑賞かんしょうに堪たえる優すぐれた映画えいがだ。

This work is a fine film that still holds up to viewing today.

新あたらしい橋はしは、大おおきな地震じしんにも耐たえる設計せっけいになっている。

The new bridge is designed to withstand even a large earthquake.

Study 〜に堪える in the course →