〜がたい

About

がたい is an い-adjective that attaches as a suffix to the stem form of verbs, and indicates that they are very difficult/impossible to do.

～がたい is stiff/written in tone, but may be used in conversational contexts to emphasize the difficulty of an action.

～がたい statements indicate a psychological difficulty, and should not be used with actions that are difficult because of a lack of ability.

E.g. バンジージャンプがやりたいだなんて理解りかいしがたい。 "I can't understand people who say they want to do bungee jumping."

E.g. 自分じぶんの親友しんゆうのことをそんなふうに言うなんて信しんじがたい。 "I can't believe you'd speak that way about your own best friend."

E.g. いじめは許ゆるしがたい行為こういだ。 "Bullying is an act that is very difficult to forgive."

Compared to ～にくい・～づらい, ～がたい indicates a higher degree of difficulty.

Summary

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  ～がたい indicates that an action is very difficult/impossible to do

• 

  ～がたい is stiff/written in tone, but may be used in conversational contexts

• 

  ～がたい statements indicate a psychological difficulty (rather than a lack of ability)

• 

  Compared to ～にくい・～づらい, ～がたい indicates a higher degree of difficulty