16325
Apparently the phrase `でならない` means something like "unable to suppress". For
example, in this sentence, `残念{ざんねん}でならない` means, "can't help but be
disappointed":

>
> 特{とく}に最近{さいきん}の若{わか}い人{ひと}は教育{きょういく}制度{せいど}の影響{えいきょう}か、早{はや}くからもう自分{じぶん}の将来{しょうらい}はこのくらいのものだと見切{みき}りをつけて、それ以上{いじょう}は望{のぞ}まないと言{い}うような考{かんが}えの人{ひと}が少{すく}なからずいるのは残念{ざんねん}でならない。

But I just can't see how `でならない` can be parsed that way. It's not a double
negative or anything, and it just seems to be the negative form of `なる`.

Recently, [in response to](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/16132/119)
another question I asked, I was reminded how `なる` is attached to words to mean
"to become". So, I would translate `残念{ざんねん}でならない` as "not become
disappointed", which would completely reverse the meaning of the sentence
above.

What is the logic behind `残念{ざんねん}でならない` meaning "can't help but be
disappointed", and why does it not mean "does not become disappointed"? How
can I differentiate this phrase from instances where `ならない` simply means "does
not become"?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-04T03:33:02.973
16290
2014-06-08T01:26:12.403
2017-04-13T12:43:48.447
-1
119
question
grammar
Why does 「でならない」 not mean "does not become"?
ならない is an expression that means that something is unbearably so, exceedingly
so, felt strongly in such a way. It should be parsed as something separate
from the normal ～になる "become" meaning. If it were to be "become" then it would
use に instead of で. In this sense で is the continuative form of the copula,
and as such it is describing a situation and the ならない afterward is describing
something that follows as a result. 残念でならない can therefore only be parsed in
the "can't help but be" meaning. If it were 残念にならない you'd have something like
what you want to say, although I don't think that particular wording would be
used.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-04T03:41:18.660
16291
2014-06-04T03:41:18.660
1797
16290
answer
This expression is typically characterised as "I/you can't help but...." and
adds emphasis to the statement which is about feelings, usually negative. You
can look this up in grammar books as 〜てならない. It combines with adjectives and
verbs. 残念 is a な-adjective so instead of 〜て it is 〜で.

The examples I have are:

> 親友の結婚式に出席できないのが 残念 でならない  
>  I [can't help but be/am] so disapointed that I won't be able to attend my
> friend's wedding.
>
> 検査の結果が 気になってならない  
>  I [can't help but be/am] concerned about the results of my physical exam.

Because it applies to the feelings it is used with first/second person. To
apply to a third party you would finish the sentence with ようだ／らしい.

According to the comment above it is in the Dictionary of Advanced Japanese
Grammar but **if it is not in your N1 text book then it is probably covered at
N2**. There are other related expressions such as 〜てたまらない and 〜てしょうがない worth
knowing.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-04T23:49:48.123
16296
2014-06-05T01:10:03.023
2014-06-05T01:10:03.023
1556
1556
16290
answer
The て part is a conditional particle, similar to ～してはならない, ～してしかたない, ～してすみません,
etc. In 残念でならない, 残念 is the cause of ならない.

ならない is the negative form of なる, which is the intransitive verb of なす (to do).
The relation between ならない and なす is analogous to できない and する. In modern
Japanese, なす/ならない is only used in some fixed expressions, such as `なせばなる`,
`どうにも(こうにも)ならない/however (you do it) you will accomplish (nothing)`,
`なんとかなる/somehow manage`, `我慢ならない` and `してはならない`.

なんとかなる and 我慢ならない are clearly related to なんとかできる and 我慢できない.

* * *

残念でならない is better understood as “it is so disappointing that/and I cannot
(...)”. This ならない means しかたがない or 我慢できない that is what you said “unable to
suppress”.

Nevertheless, ならない is idiomatic. You cannot really replace it with できない. And
there is a clear difference among ～してならない, ～してしようがない(idiomatic),
～してたまらない(idiomatic) and ～して我慢できない(unidiomatic).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-07T20:25:39.910
16325
2014-06-08T01:26:12.403
2014-06-08T01:26:12.403
4833
16290
answer