Part of Me Wants To, but Can I Really? ないでもない・ものか・みせる・相まって

Express restrained wishes, strong feelings, and reactions that are difficult to put into ordinary words. This set includes literary ways to express wishes and strong reactions. A wish may be presented as continuing; another pattern may describe an emotional response that the speaker cannot suppress.

Patterns in this lesson

• い-Adj[く] + もなんともない — Not… or anything, Not at all, Not, By no means, Definitely not, Nothing like that
• に至っても — Even when
• Verb + だに — Just, Even just, Even merely
• ないでもない — Kind of, Might, Slightly, It’s not (impossible) that, Somewhat, In some respects
• もさることながら — It is a fact that, But, Even more than, It goes without saying, Not only but also,
• ものと思っていた — Was under the impression that, (Always) the thought used to think
• でなくてなんだろう — If … is not … then what is?
• はさておき・はさておいて — (Leaving or putting) aside, Apart
• 折には — When, Occasion, Opportunity, Time
• を兼ねて — And also, Also (partly) to, Also (partly) for (the purpose of), At the same time, To double as, When … also, While … as well, And as
• Verb[ない]もの(だろう)か — (Why) can’t, Isn’t there, Wish that, If only
• Verb[て] + みせる — I will definitely, I will certainly, Just watch, Whatever it takes, I swear, for sure
• 相まって — Combined with, Coupled with, Together with

てやまない emphasizes a continuing, heartfelt wish. It is common in speeches and formal messages, rather than quick everyday exchanges.

In a real speech, this kind of expression signals emotional commitment. Translate the intensity, but avoid adding a stronger claim than the speaker made.

Vocabulary