情不自禁
HSK 6- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Expresses an emotion so intense that one cannot restrain oneself from acting.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is a chengyu (成语) meaning "unable to restrain one's feelings." 情不自禁 is used to express an emotion so overwhelming that you cannot control it and it bursts out as a concrete action such as laughing, crying, clapping, etc.
It is most commonly used as an adverbial, placed before a verb and optionally followed by 地. This structure emphasizes the spontaneous, unintentional nature of an action driven by emotion.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 看到宝宝的笑脸，我情不自禁地笑了。繁: 看到寶寶的笑臉，我情不自禁地笑了。Kàndào bǎobao de xiàoliǎn, wǒ qíngbùzìjīn de xiào le.
Seeing the baby's smiling face, I couldn't help but smile.
- 听到这个感人的故事，她情不自禁地哭了。繁: 聽到這個感人的故事，她情不自禁地哭了。Tīngdào zhège gǎnrén de gùshi, tā qíngbùzìjīn de kū le.
Hearing this touching story, she couldn't help but cry.
- 表演太精彩了，观众情不自禁地鼓掌。繁: 表演太精彩了，觀眾情不自禁地鼓掌。Biǎoyǎn tài jīngcǎi le, guānzhòng qíngbùzìjīn de gǔzhǎng.
The performance was so brilliant that the audience couldn't help but applaud.
- 想起以前的趣事，他情不自禁地笑出声来。繁: 想起以前的趣事，他情不自禁地笑出聲來。Xiǎngqǐ yǐqián de qùshì, tā qíngbùzìjīn de xiào chū shēng lái.
Recalling the funny incidents from before, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
- 看到美丽的日落，我情不自禁地拿出手机。繁: 看到美麗的日落，我情不自禁地拿出手機。Kàndào měilì de rìluò, wǒ qíngbùzìjīn de ná chū shǒujī.
Seeing the beautiful sunset, I couldn't help but take out my phone.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我笑了情不自禁。Correct:我情不自禁地笑了。
情不自禁 is an adverbial phrase and must come before the verb to modify the action.
- Wrong:他很情不自禁。Correct:他情不自禁地跳了起来。
This is an idiom indicating an action, not an adjective. A verb must follow it to express an uncontrollable action.