〜てやまない (~te yamanai) — (I) never stop ~ing / truly, deeply ~
A deep wish, love or respect that never fades — the formal form of speeches and letters.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
At a company farewell party the most senior colleague gives a speech and ends with 「皆さんのこれからのご活躍を願ってやみません」— 'I will never stop wishing for your success.'
Meaning
「やむ」means 'to stop' (雨がやむ = the rain stops), so 「〜てやまない」says the feeling never stops — it stays in the heart all the time.
How to attach
Attach it to the て-form of a verb + 「やまない」(願ってやまない); the polite form is 「やみません」.
Versus what you know
- N2「〜てならない」「〜てたまらない」(心配でならない・会いたくてたまらない) are also strong feelings, but they press on you right now and are often uncomfortable
- 「てやまない」is a long-lasting, clean, respectful wish, love or admiration — stiff language heard in speeches, letters and articles.
Watch out
- The key rule: it only goes with a few verbs for lasting states of the heart — 願う・祈る・期待する・愛する・尊敬する・信じる.
- It doesn't fit a passing feeling like 「腹を立ててやまない」or 「がっかりしてやまない」.
- The speaker is usually 'I' (even if not written); about other people it appears as a general truth, like 「親は子どもの幸せを願ってやまないものだ」.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
皆様のご健康とご活躍を、心より願ってやみません。
みなさまのごけんこうとごかつやくを、こころよりねがってやみません。
I sincerely wish you all good health and success.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) ご健康とご活躍 = health and success → 願う = to wish → て-form: 願って → attach 「やみません」 (the polite form of やまない) = the wish never stops → the ending of a speech or letter.
祖父は、生まれ育ったカトマンズの町を愛してやまなかった。
そふは、うまれそだったカトマンズのまちをあいしてやまなかった。
My grandfather deeply loved Kathmandu, the city where he was born and raised.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 生まれ育った町 = the city where he was born and raised → 愛する = to love → て-form: 愛して → 「やまなかった」 (past) = his love never stopped, all his life.
新しく入った後輩たちの成長を、心から期待してやまない。
あたらしくはいったこうはいたちのせいちょうを、こころからきたいしてやまない。
I truly look forward to seeing our new juniors grow.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 後輩たちの成長 = the juniors' growth → 期待する = to have high hopes → て-form: 期待して → 「やまない」 = the hope never stops → the subject is 'I', but it isn't written in the sentence.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「卒業生の皆さんの幸せを＿＿やみません。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which verb form comes before 「やまない」?
て-form + やまない. 願ってやみません = I wish it from my heart, always. The other forms don't attach here.
In which sentence is 「てやまない」unnatural?
💡 Hint: A lasting feeling, or a moment of anger?
てやまない only goes with lasting feelings like 願う・祈る・愛する・期待する. Getting angry at a late train is a passing feeling, so it doesn't fit.
To end a farewell speech with 'I sincerely wish you success', which is right?
💡 Hint: A formal, clean, lasting wish.
願ってやみません is the set phrase for speeches. てたまらない and てかなわない are for unbearable, unpleasant feelings; 願ってばかりいます means 'I do nothing but wish' — a different meaning.
Your score: /3