不由自主 (bù yóu zì zhǔ) — can't help (doing something), involuntarily

Definition

Means 'can't help it, involuntarily' — it focuses on bodily or emotional reactions that overtake you, more on physical reflex than 不禁's mental impulse. Use ∼地 + verb to modify the action.

phrase
can't help (doing something)involuntarily

Examples

  • 不由自主
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiào hua, dà jiā dōu bù yóu zì zhǔ dì xiào le.
    Hearing this joke, everyone couldn't help laughing.
  • 不由自主
    Tā kàn dào lǎo zhào piàn, bù yóu zì zhǔ dì liú xià le yǎn lèi.
    When she saw the old photo, tears fell involuntarily.
  • 不由自主
    Tiān qì tài lěng, tā bù yóu zì zhǔ dì dǎ le ge duō suo.
    The weather was so cold he couldn't help shivering.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.