～を禁じ得ない

• Reading: をきんじえない
• Romaji: o kinji enai
• Formation: Noun (emotion) + を禁じ得ない
• Kanji breakdown: 禁 (きん) — prohibit; 得 (え) — obtain, be able to

Meaning

A phrase meaning 'cannot help but feel' or 'cannot suppress.' It is used when one cannot control strong emotions or reactions caused by something moving, shocking, or outrageous.

を禁じ得ない expresses that an emotion or reaction is so strong that it cannot be held back. 禁じる means 'to prohibit or suppress,' and 得ない means 'cannot.' Together they convey that the speaker is unable to suppress a feeling. The emotions used with this pattern are typically nouns such as 驚き (surprise), 怒り (anger), 涙 (tears), 感動 (being moved), 失望 (disappointment), or 同情 (sympathy). This is a highly literary and formal expression, almost exclusively used in written Japanese — essays, editorials, speeches, and formal commentary. It would sound stilted in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 被害者の証言を聞いて同情を禁じ得なかった。 Upon hearing the victim's testimony, I could not help but feel sympathy.
2. 政府の対応の遅さに怒りを禁じ得ない。 I cannot suppress my anger at the slowness of the government's response.
3. 長年の努力が実を結んだ姿に感動を禁じ得ない。 I cannot help but be moved by seeing years of effort bear fruit.

Usage Guide

Context: written, editorial, formal speech

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 彼の突然の辞任に驚きを禁じ得ない。
• 戦争の悲惨な映像を見て涙を禁じ得なかった。
• 選手たちの健闘に感嘆を禁じ得ない。

Don't Say

• 被害者の証言を聞いて同情を禁じられない。(Using 禁じられない instead of 禁じ得ない — the fixed form uses 得ない, not the potential passive) → 被害者の証言を聞いて同情を禁じ得なかった。
• このケーキを見て食欲を禁じ得ない。(Using を禁じ得ない for a mundane reaction like appetite — it is reserved for profound emotional responses) → このケーキを見て食欲をそそられた。

Origin & History

Compound of を (object), 禁じ (stem of 禁じる, to prohibit/suppress), and 得ない (cannot). Literally 'cannot manage to suppress,' describing an overwhelming emotional response.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal