Chinese word

情不自禁

Pronunciation

Pinyinqíng bù zì jīn

Meaning

  • idiomcan't help but

Example

看到老朋友，我情不自禁地笑了。kàn dào lǎo péng yǒu wǒ qíng bú zì jīn dì xiào le

When I saw an old friend, I couldn't help but smile.

Illustration for 情不自禁 (can't help but)

More examples

看到老照片，他情不自禁地想起了过去。kàn dào lǎo zhào piān tā qíng bú zì jīn dì xiáng qǐ le guò qù

When he saw the old photos, he couldn't help but think of the past.

Core concept

An inner reaction moves straight into words, facial expressions, or actions before deliberate control can stop it.

Common phrases

  • 他的举动让人情不自禁地笑tā de jǔ dòng ràng rén qíng bú zì jīn dì xiào

    make people laugh involuntarily

  • 情不自禁地想起往事qíng bú zì jīn dì xiáng qǐ wǎng shì

    can't help but think of the past

Similar words

不由自主bù yóu zì zhǔ: An action or reaction that happens without conscious control or deliberate choice.
按捺不住àn nà bú zhù: An emotion or impulse that cannot be held back, leaving someone unable to stay still.
忍俊不禁rěn jùn bù jīn: Laughter that cannot be held back and bursts out despite an attempt to suppress it.

Definition in Chinese

因情感强烈而克制不住自己，情绪或行为不由自主地表现出来。yīn qíng gǎn qiáng liè ér kè zhì bú zhù zì jǐ qíng xù huò xíng wéi bù yóu zì zhǔ dì biǎo xiàn chū lái

Word origin

情 (qíng, "emotion") + 不 (bù, "not") + 自 (zì, "self") + 禁 (jīn, "restrain") forms the image of emotion breaking past self-restraint, which explains an involuntary reaction.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear control oneself as deliberate self-discipline, but this Chinese idiom usually describes an emotion-driven response rather than a chosen act.

Other meanings

  • be unable to control oneselfidiom

Opposites

  • 泰然自若tài rán zì ruòbe calm and composedidiom

Word lists with this word