"be dying to do something" only makes sense when --tetamaranai is connected with expressions such as -takute/-hoshikute
jshaomao
This grammar primary translates as "X is unbearable" Such as: 痛くてたまらない (itakute-tamaranai) It's extremely/unbearably painful"
jiji_the_cat
Wicked I love this example... 寒くて たまらない !
ninja_k
I remember seeing this in a JLPT Level 2 test somewhere...
nhk9
堪らない helps me to think of it with the 'withstand' kanji
Snake
I usually use hiragana to write tamaranai(堪らない) for even with PC. But all the examples here are repalced by 堪らない。
Miki
if you make the verb in tai form + tamaranai, thus it literally mean dying to? and when you just use the plain verb form it is translated to unbearable?