情不自禁 (qíng bú zì jīn) — cannot help (doing something), unable to restrain one's emotions

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禁 has 林 above 示, an altar. The 林 part gives the sound, and the altar part connects the character to taboo or restricted matters.