Meanings of 不禁
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AI Study Notes for 不禁
不由自主 (bùyóuzìzhǔ) - use 不禁 when emphasizing an emotional reaction rather than a physical inability to control one's actions.
Be cautious with the tone; '不禁' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it fits better in literary or expressive settings. A common mistake is using it with a direct object that doesn’t fit the emotional context, for example, saying '不禁吃' (bù jīn chī) instead of the correct '不禁笑' (bù jīn xiào).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 不禁 connects well with other advanced vocabulary that expresses emotions or reactions. Focus on using it in complex sentences to articulate nuanced responses, and practice with synonyms like '忍不住' (rěn bù zhù) for a fuller understanding.
Learners often confuse 不禁 with 禁止 (jìn zhǐ), which means 'to prohibit.' For example, saying '我不禁禁止' (wǒ bù jīn jìn zhǐ) is incorrect; use '我不禁笑' (wǒ bù jīn xiào) to express 'I can’t help but laugh.'
Pronunciation of 不禁
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Component Characters
How to say can't help (doing sth) in Chinese
“can't help (doing sth)” in Chinese is不禁
不禁 (bù jīn) means 'can't help' or 'cannot refrain from doing something.' It is often used to express involuntary reactions, such as emotions or actions that occur in response to certain stimuli. Common contexts include feelings of joy, laughter, or sadness that arise unexpectedly.
When to use 不禁
Be cautious with the tone; '不禁' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it fits better in literary or expressive settings. A common mistake is using it with a direct object that doesn’t fit the emotional context, for example, saying '不禁吃' (bù jīn chī) instead of the correct '不禁笑' (bù jīn xiào).
不禁 or something close to it
不由自主 (bùyóuzìzhǔ) - use 不禁 when emphasizing an emotional reaction rather than a physical inability to control one's actions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 不禁 with 禁止 (jìn zhǐ), which means 'to prohibit.' For example, saying '我不禁禁止' (wǒ bù jīn jìn zhǐ) is incorrect; use '我不禁笑' (wǒ bù jīn xiào) to express 'I can’t help but laugh.'
Write 不禁
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Grammar Patterns of 不禁
不禁 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我____回忆起第一次跟她见面的场景。
I couldn't help recalling the scene of our first meeting.
Example Sentences for 不禁 (7)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 不禁
不禁 is best used for strong, involuntary reactions like laughter or tears, rather than neutral emotions.
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