を禁じ得ない

JLPT Level: N1

Meanings

Cannot help feeling

Cannot but

Cannot hold back (emotions)

Usage

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)

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.

その美しい光景を前に、涙を禁じ得ない。

その　うつくしい　こうけい　を　まえ　に、　なみだ　を　きんじえない。

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。

かのじょのことばをきいて、むねがあつくなり、うれしさをきんじえない。

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。

このはっけんにはおどろきをきんじえない。

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。

こどものじゅんすいさをみて、わらいをきんじえなかった。

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