情不自禁 (qíng bú zì jīn) — cannot help (doing something), unable to restrain one's emotions
Definition
Means 'can't help (doing something)' — focuses on emotion overwhelming you, so you act without thinking. Used for feelings (tears, laughter, applause) rather than physical reflex, which is what 不由自主 covers.
phrase
cannot help (doing something)unable to restrain one's emotions
Examples
- ，情不自禁。Tīng dào zhè ge hǎo xiāo xi, tā qíng bú zì jīn dì tiào le qǐ lái.Hearing the good news, she couldn't help jumping up.
- ，情不自禁。Kàn dào ér zi huò jiǎng, fù qīn qíng bú zì jīn dì liú xià le yǎn lèi.Seeing his son win the award, the father couldn't help shedding tears.
- ，情不自禁。Diàn yǐng tài gǎn rén le, guān zhòng men qíng bú zì jīn dì gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái.The movie was so moving that the audience couldn't help applauding.
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