やるせない

やるせない
i-adjective
helpless; forlorn; unbearable
literaryemotiondescriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentやるせないやるせなくない
Pastやるせなかったやるせなくなかった
て formやるせなくてやるせなくなくて
Adverbialやるせなく—
Conditional ばやるせなければやるせなくなければ
Conditional たらやるせなかったらやるせなくなかったら
1. helpless; forlorn; having no outlet for one's feelings
Describes a feeling of sadness, frustration, or longing with no way to relieve or express it. Often implies a sense of melancholy or emotional heaviness.
やるせない気持(きも)ちで胸(むね)がいっぱいになった。
My heart was filled with a helpless, forlorn feeling.
彼(かれ)の死(し)を聞(き)いて、やるせない思(おも)いだった。
Hearing of his death, I felt an unbearable sadness.
故郷(ふるさと)を離(はな)れるやるせなさを感(かん)じた。
I felt the forlorn sadness of leaving my hometown.

Forms

  • やるせない (dictionary/attributive)
  • やるせなさ (noun form: the feeling of helplessness/forlornness)
  • やるせなく (adverbial)

Etymology

From 遣(や)る瀬(せ) (やるせ, an outlet for emotions) + ない (without). Literally "without an outlet."

Usage

やるせない describes a deep emotional state where one feels sad, frustrated, or melancholy but has no way to express or relieve those feelings. Common collocations:

  • やるせない気持(きも)ち - helpless/forlorn feelings
  • やるせない思(おも)い - unbearable emotions
  • やるせない恋(こい) - unrequited/melancholy love

Similar words

Register

Literary to neutral. Common in songs, poetry, and emotional writing.

Related Words

Synonym: 切(せつ)ない (painful, heartrending)
Synonym: 空(むな)しい (empty, futile)
Compare: もどかしい (frustrating)
general
Added 2026.1.19 16:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07389_yarusenai