不禁

bù jīn

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Adverb Uncommon

Definitions

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

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'.

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