を禁じ得ない (wo ji nai)

Meaning & usage

を禁じ得ない expresses being unable to hold back a strong feeling such as tears, smiles, anger or deep emotion. It follows a small set of nouns with を, as in 涙を禁じ得ない or 怒りを禁じ得ない, and the final verb often appears in the past as 禁じ得なかった. It is formal written language and is not used for every emotion noun, so learners should memorize its common pairings.

Example sentences 5

1. 被災地ひさいちの写真しゃしんを見みて、涙なみだを禁きんじ得えなかった。

   Looking at the photos of the disaster area, I could not hold back my tears.

2. 彼の身勝手な言い訳に、怒りを禁じ得ない。

   I cannot help feeling anger at his selfish excuse.

3. 彼の優しさに涙を禁じ得なかった。

   I couldn't hold back tears at his kindness.

4. 合格の知らせに笑みを禁じ得ない。

   I can't help smiling at the news that I passed.

5. ひどい仕打ちに憤りを禁じ得ない。

   I cannot suppress my anger at such cruel treatment.