〜を禁じえない

Meaning

This grammar pattern means being unable to suppress a certain emotion. It is used when feeling an emotion so strongly that it cannot be held back. Commonly used with emotion nouns such as 怒り (anger), 悲しみ (sadness), 同情 (sympathy), and 戸惑い (bewilderment).

Formation

Examples

1. 怒りを禁じえない
   Cannot suppress one's anger.

2. 涙を禁じえない
   Cannot hold back tears.

3. このたびの受賞で、各方面から祝いの手紙や電話をいただいたことに感謝の念を禁じ得ません。
   Upon receiving this award, I cannot help but feel gratitude for the congratulatory letters and phone calls I received from all quarters.

4. ジャック監督の最新映画はとても傑く悲しい映画で涙を禁じえない。
   Director Jack's latest film is such a brilliantly sad movie that one cannot hold back tears.

5. 教授のスーツの背中に、可愛らしい動物のシールがついている。きっと娘さんに貼られたんだろう。想像すると、こみあげてくる笑いを禁じえなかった。
   There was a cute animal sticker on the back of the professor's suit. His daughter must have put it there. When I imagined the scene, I couldn't suppress the laughter welling up inside me.

Summary

• 「〜を禁じえない」 means "cannot help but ..., cannot suppress ..."
• Attaches to Noun