不禁

bù jīn

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Adverb Uncommon

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Definitions

1. can't help (doing sth)
2. can't refrain from

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Word relationships

Related words

3 items

• 不由自主 bù yóu zì zhǔ 不由自主 bù yóu zì zhǔ can't help; involuntarily (idiom) Often used with 不禁 to emphasize involuntary action.: can't help; involuntarily (idiom)
• 难免 nán miǎn 难免 nán miǎn hard to avoid Related but different: 难免 means 'hard to avoid', not specifically 'can't help feeling/doing'.: hard to avoid
• 不尽 bù jìn 不尽 bù jìn not completely Note the difference: 不禁 is 'can't help', 不尽 means 'endless' or 'not fully'.: not completely

Synonyms

1 item

• 忍不住 rěn bu zhù 忍不住 rěn bu zhù cannot help Both mean 'can't help but do something'; 不禁 is more literary, while 忍不住 is colloquial.: cannot help

Usage notes

Collocations

Often followed by a verb or adjective expressing an involuntary emotional reaction, e.g., 不禁笑了起来 (can't help but laugh).

Common mistakes

Don't confuse with 禁止 (to prohibit). 不禁 is an adverb meaning 'involuntarily'.

Grammar

Guides that feature 不禁

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2 guides

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 7 min

Manner Adverbs 不禁, 赶忙, 特地, 特意, 偷偷

Describe how someone acts: unable to help it (不禁), in a hurry (赶忙), on purpose for someone (特地, 特意) or in secret (偷偷).

Reading: bù jīn Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 8 min

Spontaneous Reaction with 不禁

Use 不禁 for advanced descriptions of emotion and automatic response.

Reading: bù jīn Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown

看到这幅画，她 不禁 露出了微笑。

Seeing this painting, she couldn't help but smile.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 不禁

• 弱不禁风 弱不禁风 ruò bù jīn fēng: too weak to stand up to the wind (idiom); extremely delicate
• 忍俊不禁 忍俊不禁 rěn jùn bù jīn: cannot help laughing

Child Words of 不禁

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 禁 禁 jīn: to endure
• 禁 禁 jìn: to prohibit