Meaning
This pattern describes situations where you want to hold back a feeling or action but find it impossible to do so. It expresses involuntary emotions or reactions that you cannot control. The nuance is that the action or emotion happens despite your efforts to resist it.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 动词(ない) | ずにはいられない／ないではいられない |
| 动词(ます) | せずにはいられない |
| 动词(ます) | しないではいられない |
Examples
-
彼女の冗談はどこもおもしろくて、笑わないではいられない。
Her jokes are so funny everywhere that I can't help but laugh. -
あの心温まる感動の映画を見ると遠でも泣かずにはいられない。
When I watch that warm and touching movie, anyone cannot help but shed tears. -
親は仕事の関係でインドネシアへ引っ越しました。早く親のそばで暮らしたいので、私も高校卒業後にはインドネシアへ住むことを期待せずにはいられない。
Because of my parents' work, they moved to Indonesia. Wanting to live near them soon, I cannot help but look forward to moving there after high school graduation.
Summary
- Forms: verb (negative) + ずにはいられない/ないではいられない; or verb (masu-stem) + せずにはいられない/しないではいられない
- Expresses involuntary emotions or actions that cannot be suppressed despite wanting to resist them
- Commonly used to describe natural reactions like laughing, crying, or feeling emotions in response to stimuli