Definition
情不自禁 (qíng bú zì jīn) means 'cannot help (doing something)' and emphasizes an emotional impulse that overrides self-control — your feelings make you act. 不由自主 (bù yóu zì zhǔ) is broader: it can be emotional or physical (e.g., a reflex), while 身不由己 (shēn bù yóu jǐ) focuses on being physically unable to act freely due to external force or situation.
phrase
cannot help (doing something)unable to restrain one's emotions
Examples
- ，情不自禁。Tīng dào zhège hǎo xiāoxi, tā qíng bú zì jīn de tiào le qǐlai.Hearing the good news, she couldn't help jumping up.
- ，情不自禁。Kàn dào érzi huò jiǎng, fùqin qíng bú zì jīn de liú xià le yǎnlèi.Seeing his son win the award, the father couldn't help shedding tears.
- ，情不自禁。Diànyǐng tài gǎnrén le, guānzhòng men qíng bú zì jīn de gǔ qǐ zhǎng lai.The movie was so moving that the audience couldn't help applauding.
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