Chinese word

不由得

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù yóu de

Meaning

  • adverbcan't help but

Example

看到照片，我不由得笑了。kàn dào zhào piān wǒ bù yóu de xiào le

When I saw the photo, I couldn't help but laugh.

Illustration for 不由得 (can't help but)

More examples

台上一句冷笑话，观众不由得笑出声。tái shàng yí jù lěng xiào huà guān zhòng bù yóu de xiào chū shēng

A corny joke on stage made the audience laugh out loud.

Core concept

An outside event or inner feeling naturally sets off a response that is not deliberately chosen.

Common phrases

  • 不由得笑出声bù yóu de xiào chū shēng

    can't help but laugh out loud

  • 不由得想起bù yóu de xiáng qǐ

    can't help but remember

  • 不由得感到bù yóu de gǎn dào

    can't help but feel

Similar words

忍不住rěn bú zhù: Describing an urge or feeling that cannot be held back, leading to an unplanned action.
不禁bù jīn: Describing an unplanned feeling or action, especially in more formal written language.
情不自禁qíng bú zì jīn: Describing feelings so strong that they cannot be controlled and come out in words or actions.
不由自主bù yóu zì zhǔ: Describing an action or reaction that happens without conscious control or personal intention.

Definition in Chinese

在外界刺激或内心触动下，情感或动作不由自主地发生，常用于表示因某种原因而自然而然地做出反应。zài wài jiè cì jī huò nèi xīn chù dòng xià qíng gǎn huò dòng zuò bù yóu zì zhǔ dì fā shēng cháng yòng yú biǎo shì yīn móu zhǒng yuán yīn ér zì rán ér rán dì zuò chū fǎn yìng

Word origin

The form 不由得 (bùyóude, "not be under one's control") is built around 由得 (yóude, "be up to someone"), with 不 (bù, "not") reversing it to show that the response does not remain up to the person.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can place it directly before the response verb, whereas English often needs a longer clause to show that the action happens without intention.

Other meanings

  • without meaning toadverb
  • unable to hold backadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word