每天成语
background texture
< 无拘无束弥足珍贵 >

按捺不住

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: àn nà bù zhù
  • English Translation: Unable to restrain oneself / Unable to contain (one's emotions)
  • Idiom Composition: 「按捺」（To restrain, suppress, or press down (specifically regarding emotions or impulses).）＋「不」（Not (used here as part of a potential complement to indicate inability).）＋「住」（To hold firm or keep in place (indicating the result of the action of pressing down).）
  • Meaning: To be unable to suppress or control strong emotions such as joy, anger, or curiosity, causing them to burst forth despite attempts at restraint.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「按捺不住」 contains the following nuances:

  • Emotional Overflow: This phrase implies more than just a lack of patience; it suggests a powerful surge of emotion from within that exceeds the limits of one's willpower or reason.
  • Versatile Application: Unlike some idioms that are strictly positive or negative, 按捺不住 (àn nà bù zhù) can be applied to any intense feeling, including joy, anger, curiosity, or sudden impulses.

3. Usage

「按捺不住」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Joy and Excitement: Used when hearing good news or just before a highly anticipated event, describing a state of being too thrilled to stay still.
    • Example:「听到获奖的消息，他按捺不住内心的喜悦，大声欢呼起来。」
      （Upon hearing the news of the award, he could not contain his inner joy and began to cheer loudly.）
  • Anger and Frustration: Used when one is treated unfairly or provoked, and their anger reaches a breaking point.
    • Example:「面对对方的无理指责，他终于按捺不住心中的怒火，拍案而起。」
      （Faced with the other party's unreasonable accusations, he finally could not hold back his anger and slammed his hand on the table as he stood up.）
  • Curiosity and Impulse: Used when driven by a strong urge to discover a secret or try something new.
    • Example:「看着那个神秘的盒子，孩子按捺不住好奇心，偷偷打开了一条缝。」
      （Looking at the mysterious box, the child could not resist their curiosity and secretly peeked through a small crack.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 比赛还没开始，观众们就已经按捺不住激动的心情了。
    （Even though the match hadn't started yet, the spectators were already unable to restrain their excitement.）
  2. 虽然我知道应该保持冷静，但还是按捺不住想要反驳的冲动。
    （Although I knew I should stay calm, I still could not suppress the urge to talk back.）
  3. 久别重逢，两人都按捺不住激动的泪水。
    （Reunited after a long separation, the two could not hold back their tears of emotion.）
  4. 看到不公正的事情，正直的人总是按捺不住要站出来说话。
    （When seeing injustice, an honest person cannot help but stand up and speak out.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • This idiom appears in the Ming Dynasty (明朝) short story collection Stories to Caution the World (警世通言), specifically in the famous tale 'The White Maiden Locked for Eternity in the Leifeng Pagoda' (白娘子永镇雷峰塔). It is used to describe the White Snake spirit's inability to restrain her feelings for the mortal Xu Xian (许仙).
  • The structure of the idiom is a classic example of a potential complement. 按捺 (àn nà) means to press down with the hand, which metaphorically refers to 'suppressing' a feeling. The suffix 不住 (bù zhù) indicates that the action of 'holding' or 'fixing' something in place is unsuccessful.
  • While you may occasionally see it written as 按纳不住 (àn nà bù zhù) in older texts, the version using the 'hand' radical (按捺不住) is the standard modern form.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 按捺不住 (àn nà bù zhù) describes a state where internal feelings or impulses become so powerful that they overcome one's self-control. It is frequently used in the pattern '按捺不住 + [Emotion]' to depict a vivid, human moment of emotional overflow, whether positive or negative.

'造句' Feature Usage Guide

造句练习📝

Try creating sentences using '按捺不住'!

0/50