N1156/186

を禁じ得ない

Verb (masu-stem) + を禁じ得ないNoun + を禁じ得ないVerb(dictionary) + を禁じ得ない? (rare)

Meanings

  • Cannot help feeling
  • Cannot but
  • Cannot hold back (emotions)

About this pattern

Explanation

を禁じ得ない is used when the speaker experiences a strong emotion that cannot be suppressed in a given situation. The thing that cannot be helped comes before を, usually expressed as a noun form derived from a verb (the 連用形/masu-stem) or a noun phrase. This construction is formal or literary and often appears in writing or formal speech. It emphasizes the inevitability of the feeling or reaction, rather than choice.

Learn in context

Example sentences

その美しい光景を前に、涙を禁じ得ない。

In front of that beautiful景, I cannot help but cry.

彼女の言葉を聞いて、胸が熱くなり、嬉しさを禁じ得ない。

Hearing her words, my chest warmed, and I cannot help feeling happiness.

この発見には驚きを禁じ得ない。

I cannot help being surprised at this discovery.

子どもの純粋さを見て、笑いを禁じ得なかった。

Seeing the child’s innocence, I could not help laughing.