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情不自禁

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: qíng bù zì jīn
  • English Translation: Cannot help but (unable to restrain one's emotions)
  • Idiom Composition: 「情」（Emotion or feeling）＋「不」（Not or cannot）＋「自」（Self）＋「禁」（To restrain or endure (pronounced 'jīn' here)）
  • Meaning: A state where one's emotions are so strong that they cannot be controlled, leading to an involuntary or spontaneous action. It describes feelings like joy, sorrow, or being deeply moved welling up from within.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「情不自禁」 contains the following nuances:

  • Natural Outpouring of Emotion: This phrase describes an action that is not forced from the outside, but rather a natural result of internal feelings manifesting as physical behavior.
  • Inability to Control: It emphasizes that even if one tries to remain rational, the momentum of the emotion is too strong to be suppressed.
  • Pronunciation Note: The character 禁 is pronounced 'jīn' (1st tone) when it means 'to endure' or 'to bear,' as it does here. This is different from the 'jìn' (4th tone) used in 'prohibit' (禁止).

3. Usage

「情不自禁」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Deep Emotion or Joy: Most commonly used when witnessing a wonderful performance, a beautiful sight, or a happy event that triggers spontaneous applause or tears.
    • Example:「看到女儿第一次登台表演，母亲情不自禁地流下了激动的泪水。」
      （Seeing her daughter perform on stage for the first time, the mother could not help but shed tears of excitement.）
  • Affection and Love: Used to describe romantic or parental impulses, such as being moved to touch or kiss someone out of pure affection.
    • Example:「看着熟睡的孩子可爱的脸庞，她情不自禁地亲了一下。」
      （Looking at the sleeping child's cute face, she couldn't help but give him a kiss.）
  • Surprise or Laughter: Used when an unexpected joke or funny situation makes it impossible to keep a straight face.
    • Example:「听到这个滑稽的笑话，大家都情不自禁地笑出声来。」
      （Hearing that hilarious joke, everyone spontaneously burst out laughing.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 当国歌响起时，在场的观众都情不自禁地站了起来。
    （When the national anthem played, the audience instinctively stood up.）
  2. 重返故乡，看到熟悉的街道，一种怀念之情油然而生，让我情不自禁。
    （Returning to my hometown and seeing the familiar streets, a sense of nostalgia welled up, and I could not restrain my emotions.）
  3. 面对如此壮丽的山河，游客们情不自禁地发出了赞叹。
    （Facing such magnificent mountains and rivers, the tourists could not help but cry out in admiration.）
  4. 读到这封信的末尾，他情不自禁地叹了一口气。
    （Reading the end of the letter, he involuntarily let out a sigh.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The distinction in pronunciation for 禁 (jīn) is a common pitfall for learners. In the context of 情不自禁 (qíng bù zì jīn), it specifically refers to the capacity to withstand or hold back a feeling.
  • While the idiom means 'unable to control oneself,' it is almost always used in a positive or sympathetic light. It is not used for negative addictions or bad habits (like being unable to stop smoking); for those contexts, a phrase like 无法自拔 (wú fǎ zì bá), meaning 'unable to extricate oneself,' is more appropriate.
  • Grammatically, it frequently functions as an adverbial phrase, often followed by the particle 地 (de) before a verb, as in 情不自禁地 (qíng bù zì jīn de) + [Action].

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 情不自禁 (qíng bù zì jīn) describes a moment when internal emotions—such as joy, love, or admiration—overpower one's reason, causing an instinctive reaction. A key point for learners is the pronunciation of 禁 (jīn), which means 'to endure' or 'to restrain' in this context. It is the perfect phrase to use when you are so moved by a beautiful scene or a touching moment that you 'simply couldn't help' but react.

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