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Could someone explain the grammar/words behind this and similar phrases? I did
some research and probably found the explanation, but I am not sure if this is
correct.

The phrase may be found in a variety of places (e.g.
[here](http://thejapanesepage.com/ebooks/sparrow/2)) where it is usually
translated as "can't stop worrying" or just "so worried"

心配 means "worry", this is clear. The meaning of たまらず is not this clear,
though. My dictionary says that あず is the archaic negative form (same as in in
the phrase "Vずに"). This means that the verb should be たまる. The closest verb I
found is 堪る which means something like "to endure", "to bear", "to resist"
[(see goo
jisho)](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/138927/m0u/%E3%81%9F%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8B/).
So the phrase would literally mean "Cannot resist worrying". Does this
explanation make any sense? Is there some other, better, explanation?
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2012-09-24T22:42:23.760
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2012-09-25T00:36:17.067
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grammar translation
心配でたまらず - what is the verb and its form?
It's 〜てたまらない from the verb
[堪{たま}る](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=%E3%81%9F%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8B&dtype=0&dname=0na&stype=0&pagenum=1&index=11648500),
I think the same as at [Contrasting 〜てならない、〜てしょうがない and
〜てたまらない](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/2766/contrasting-%E3%80%9C%E3%81%A6%E3%81%AA%E3%82%89%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84%E3%80%81%E3%80%9C%E3%81%A6%E3%81%97%E3%82%87%E3%81%86%E3%81%8C%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84-and-%E3%80%9C%E3%81%A6%E3%81%9F%E3%81%BE%E3%82%89%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84).

Consulting my grammar dictionary (日本語文型辞典), 〜てたまらない has a couple of meanings,
the main one being "〜我慢できない", so I think it's more-or-less similar to
"心配で我慢できない" ("I'm worried and can't bear it".)
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2012-09-25T00:01:31.897
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2012-09-25T00:01:31.897
2017-04-13T12:43:44.207
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You are right. It is from the verb `たまる`. It's of the form `～てたらない` meaning,
"So ～ I can't stand it."

>   * あつくてたまらない → It's so hot I can't stand it
>   * 心配でたまらない → I'm so worried I can't bear it
>

Again, as you mentioned, the `～ず` form is the archaic negative form, so it
fits this pattern.
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2012-09-25T00:03:48.257
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2012-09-25T00:36:17.067
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> what is the verb and its form?

The verb is tamar- (堪る) "bear, endure". The form is irrealis (未然形), hence
tamara. To this -zu is attached and expresses negation.

From the commentary, you seem to understand the grammar and meaning, but are
unable to interpret it as a whole. Think of it as "I am so _worried_ that I
_cannot endure_ it anymore."
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2012-09-25T00:04:25.533
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