到底(とうてい)

とうてい
adverb
(not) possibly; (cannot) by any means
formaldescriptive
1. (not) possibly; (cannot) by any means
Emphasizes that something is absolutely impossible or cannot be achieved under any circumstances. It requires a negative predicate: the adverb signals the denial in advance and cannot stand in an affirmative sentence.
この量(りょう)は到底(とうてい)一人(ひとり)では食(た)べきれない。
There's no way I can eat this amount by myself.
彼(かれ)の行動(こうどう)は到底(とうてい)理解(りかい)できない。
His actions are utterly beyond my comprehension.
締(し)め切(き)りまでに到底(とうてい)間(ま)に合(あ)わない。
There's no way we'll make it by the deadline.
今(いま)の給料(きゅうりょう)では到底(とうてい)生活(せいかつ)していけない。
On my current salary there is simply no way to make ends meet.
一年(いちねん)で日本語(にほんご)を完全(かんぜん)に習得(しゅうとく)するのは到底(とうてい)無理(むり)な話(はなし)だ。
Mastering Japanese completely in one year is simply out of the question.

Usage

到底(とうてい) + NEGATIVE predicate.

This adverb is a polarity item: it needs a negative to complete it. It sets up the negation early in the sentence, so a Japanese listener knows from 到底(とうてい) alone that a denial is coming. A positive 到底(とうてい)できる is ungrammatical, not merely unusual.
The speaker is not reporting a difficulty but closing off a possibility — "however you look at it, it cannot be done". It carries a resigned, slightly formal tone and is common in writing and in careful speech.

Common patterns

Similar words

  • とても〜ない - cannot possibly ~; the same structure, more conversational and slightly less emphatic
  • 絶対(ぜったい)に〜ない - absolutely will not ~; about certainty or refusal, and it works with positives too
  • どうしても〜ない - cannot ~ however hard one tries; stresses the effort expended, not the impossibility itself

Related Words

Synonym: 絶対(ぜったい)に (absolutely)
general
Added 2026.1.18 13:23 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
06500/06685_toutei