Chinese word

忍不住

Pronunciation

Pinyinrěn bù zhù

Meaning

  • verbcan't help

Example

她忍不住把礼物打开了。tā rěn bú zhù bǎ lǐ wù dǎ kāi le

She couldn't help opening the gift.

Illustration for 忍不住 (can't help)

More examples

听到那个笑话，他忍不住笑出声来。tīng dào nà ge xiào huà tā rěn bú zhù xiào chū shēng lái

When he heard that joke, he couldn't help laughing out loud.

Core concept

A feeling or urge breaks past the point of control and produces an action on its own.

Common phrases

  • 忍不住笑出声rěn bú zhù xiào chū shēng

    can't help laughing out loud

  • 忍不住想哭rěn bú zhù xiǎng kū

    can't help wanting to cry

Similar words

控制不住kòng zhì bú zhù: Being unable to control a feeling, action, or reaction.
禁不住jīn bú zhù: Unable to hold back an action because of a strong feeling or urge.
受不了shòu bù liǎo: Being unable to bear or put up with something.
忍不了rěn bù liǎo: Being unable to keep enduring something unpleasant.

Definition in Chinese

表示因不能再忍耐而自然而然发生的动作或反应，常用于描写突然的情绪或欲望爆发。biǎo shì yīn bù néng zài rěn nài ér zì rán ér rán fā shēng de dòng zuò huò fǎn yìng cháng yòng yú miáo xiě tū rán de qíng xù huò yù wàng bào fā

Word origin

忍不住 (rěnbùzhù, "unable to hold back") is formed from 忍 (rěn, "endure") + 不 (bù, "not") + 住 (zhù, "hold"), presenting an impulse that cannot remain restrained.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this verb often introduces an observable reaction rather than a lasting condition, so it fits sudden laughter, tears, or speech that slips out.

Other meanings

  • involuntarilyadverb
  • can't bearadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word