〜に忍びない
Formation
Meaning
Expresses that one's heart pains or it is unbearable to do something, often due to pity or feelings of regret.
Note
A literary expression meaning 'cannot bear to...' or 'too painful to...'. It expresses that the speaker is so emotionally affected that they cannot bring themselves to do something.
Examples
捨てるに忍びない大切な品物を、倉庫に保管している。
I am keeping items that I can't bear to throw away in the warehouse.
見るに忍びないほど、彼はひどい怪我をしていた。
He was so badly injured that it was unbearable to look at.
一人で残していくに忍びない思いから、彼は出発を延期した。
He delayed his departure because he couldn't bear to leave her behind alone.
せっかく作ってくれた料理を残すに忍びなく、無理して全部食べた。
Unable to bear leaving the meal that someone went to the trouble of cooking, he forced himself to finish it all.
彼の落胆ぶりは、正視するに忍びないものだった。
His disappointment was too painful to look at directly.
古い家を取り壊すに忍びないものがあり、リフォームすることに決めた。
Demolishing the old house was somewhat painful, so they decided to renovate it instead.