情不自禁

qíng bù zì jīn

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Uncommon

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Definitions

1. unable to restrain emotions
2. cannot help

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items

• 身不由己 shēn bù yóu jǐ 身不由己 shēn bù yóu jǐ without the freedom to act independently (idiom); involuntary More about being forced by circumstances rather than emotions.: without the freedom to act independently (idiom); involuntary
• 忍俊不禁 rěn jùn bù jīn 忍俊不禁 rěn jùn bù jīn cannot help laughing Specifically refers to being unable to hold back laughter.: cannot help laughing

Synonyms

1 item

• 不由自主 bù yóu zì zhǔ 不由自主 bù yóu zì zhǔ can't help; involuntarily (idiom) Both mean 'cannot help doing something', often interchangeable.: can't help; involuntarily (idiom)

Usage notes

Common mistakes

情不自禁 is usually followed by a verb phrase (e.g., 流下眼泪), not a standalone emotion.

Example Sentences

1 shown

听到这首歌，他 情不自禁 地流下了眼泪。

Hearing this song, he couldn't help shedding tears.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 情不自禁

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 情 情 qíng: feeling
• 自 自 zì: self
• 禁 禁 jīn: to endure
• 禁 禁 jìn: to prohibit