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不由得

bù yóu de
HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Verb Rare

Definitions

  1. 1. can't help
  2. 2. cannot but

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item
忍不住
rěn bu zhù

cannot help

不能控制地做某事，与‘不由得’相似但更口语化

Synonyms

1 item
不禁
bù jīn

can't help (doing sth)

表示不由自主地产生某种感情或做出某种动作

Usage notes

Collocations

Often followed by 地 + verb phrase, but can directly precede a verb: 不由得笑了起来.

Common mistakes

Used for involuntary actions or feelings, not for physical inability. Don't say 不由得游泳 (for that, use 忍不住 or 不会).

Grammar

Guides that feature 不由得

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1 guide
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
按说, 不由得, 截然 and 日趋: Adverbs of Expectation and Change

Learn the manner adverbs 按说/按理 “normally, by rights”, 不由得 “can’t help”, 骤然 “suddenly”, 截然 “completely (different)”, 日趋 “day by day” and the notice word 特此 “hereby”.

Reading: bù yóu de Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown
听到这个笑话，她 不由得 笑了起来。
Hearing the joke, she couldn't help laughing.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 不由得

不
bù

no; not so

得
dé

to obtain

得
de

structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

得
děi

to have to

由
yóu

to follow

不由
bù yóu

can't help (doing sth)