JLPT N1

～を禁じ得ない

Cannot help but feel/do; cannot suppress

Structure

Noun (emotion/action) + を禁じ得ない

How it works

This grammar expresses an inability to suppress a strong emotion or an involuntary action, indicating that the speaker was overwhelmingly affected. It highlights a lack of control over one's feelings or behavior.

Examples

そのニュースを聞いて、涙を禁じ得なかった。

Hearing that news, I could not help but shed tears.

Common mistakes

Using it with actions that are easily controllable or intentional.

Tip

Think of it as 'unable to stop (禁じ得ない) emotion Y'.

More JLPT N1 grammar

いかんによらずをもってをものともせずともなるとであれたりとも~ないに足る極まりない

See ～を禁じ得ない in real Japanese

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