情不自禁
qíng bù zì jīn
Involuntary emotional reaction
A person's emotions become so intense that they cannot be held back. It means being overcome by a strong feeling, leading to an involuntary action or expression.
What does 情不自禁 (qíng bù zì jīn) mean?
情不自禁 (qíng bù zì jīn) means "involuntary emotional reaction" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "unable to restrain one's feelings."
Character by character
- 情 qíng feeling, emotion
- 不 bù not, unable
- 自 zì self, oneself
- 禁 jīn restrain, control
When to use it
Applicable when someone reacts spontaneously and uncontrollably due to strong feelings. It is often used for actions like shedding tears, laughing, or shouting, indicating a lack of conscious self-control over an emotional display.
Example
听了奶奶讲的这个感人的故事,我情不自禁地流出了泪。
Tīng le nǎinai jiǎng de zhège gǎnrén de gùshi, wǒ qíng bù zì jīn de liúchū le lèi.
After hearing this moving story from my grandmother, I couldn't help but shed tears.
Pro tip: The idiom specifically highlights the involuntary nature of the emotional response, meaning the person didn't intend to act that way but was compelled by their feelings.
Related idioms
千变万化 · Myriad transformations千方百计 · Many ways and means倾盆大雨 · Heavy downpour
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