不禁
HSK 6- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Adverb 不禁 expresses an action or emotion that cannot be suppressed and bursts out spontaneously.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 不禁 (bùjīn) means "cannot help but," "cannot refrain from." It describes an action or emotion that arises naturally and uncontrollably, usually triggered by an external stimulus. 不禁 carries a formal tone and is more commonly used in written language than 忍不住.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 看到老照片，我不禁想起了童年。Kàn dào lǎo zhàopiàn, wǒ bùjīn xiǎngqǐ le tóngnián.
Seeing the old photograph, I couldn't help but recall my childhood.
- 听了这个故事，她不禁流下了眼淚。繁: 聽了這個故事，她不禁流下了眼淚。Tīng le zhège gùshì, tā bùjīn liú xià le yǎnlèi.
After hearing this story, she couldn't help but shed tears.
- 看到他滑稽的样子，大家不禁笑了起来。繁: 看到他滑稽的樣子，大家不禁笑了起來。Kàn dào tā huájī de yàngzi, dàjiā bùjīn xiào le qǐlái.
Seeing his ridiculous appearance, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
- 想到未来的挑战，他不禁感到一丝忧虑。繁: 想到未來的挑戰，他不禁感到一絲憂慮。Xiǎngdào wèilái de tiǎozhàn, tā bùjīn gǎndào yī sī yōulǜ.
Thinking of future challenges, he couldn't help but feel a slight worry.
- 他的表演太精彩了，我不禁为他鼓掌。繁: 他的表演太精彩了，我不禁為他鼓掌。Tā de biǎoyǎn tài jīngcǎi le, wǒ bùjīn wèi tā gǔzhǎng.
His performance was so excellent that I couldn't help but applaud him.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我不禁不笑。Correct:我不禁笑了。
Since `不禁` already carries a negative meaning of "cannot help but," the verb that follows must be in affirmative form.
- Wrong:我笑了起来不禁。Correct:我不禁笑了起来。
不禁 is an adverb and must stand immediately before the verb it modifies; it cannot appear at the end of a sentence.