不禁

• Pinyin: bù jīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = negation; 禁 = 林 (forest) + 示, to restrain/forbid

Meaning

Cannot help but; involuntarily; can't refrain from. Indicates an irresistible urge or reaction.

An adverb expressing that one cannot control a certain reaction, usually emotional. Often followed by verbs describing emotional responses like 笑 (laugh), 哭 (cry), 感叹 (sigh), 想起 (recall). Common in written Chinese and more literary speech.

Examples

1. 看到这个搞笑视频，我不禁笑出声来。 Watching this funny video, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
2. 回忆起往事，她不禁流下了眼泪。 Recalling the past, she couldn't help but shed tears.
3. 面对如此美景，游客们不禁发出赞叹。 Faced with such beautiful scenery, the tourists couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional, literary, narrative

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 听到这个消息，他不禁松了一口气。(Hearing this news, he couldn't help but feel relieved.)
• 看到孩子们天真的笑脸，我不禁想起了自己的童年。(Seeing the children's innocent smiles, I couldn't help but recall my own childhood.)

Don't Say

• 不要把'不禁'(bùjīn)和'不仅'(bùjǐn)混淆 (Don't confuse 不禁 bùjīn 'can't help but' with 不仅 bùjǐn 'not only')

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not) + 禁 (to restrain, endure). Literally 'cannot restrain oneself from.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal