GRAMMAR
〜を禁じ得ない
cannot help feeling
Explanation
NOTE
〜を禁じ得ない means cannot help feeling — an emotion arises that the speaker cannot suppress.
その知らせに驚きを禁じ得ない。
I cannot help feeling surprised at that news.
NOTE
It is formal and literary, used in writing or speeches to express a heartfelt, spontaneous emotion.
被害者の家族に同情を禁じ得ない。
I cannot help feeling sympathy for the victims' families.
It is paired with nouns of emotion such as 怒り (anger) or 同情 (sympathy).
NOTE
Attach を禁じ得ない to a noun of emotion. The noun names the feeling that cannot be held back.
STRUCTURE
N辞
を禁じ得ない彼の態度に怒りを禁じ得ない。
Kare no taido ni ikari o kinjienai.
I cannot help feeling anger at his attitude.
その光景に涙を禁じ得ない。
Sono koukei ni namida o kinjienai.
I cannot help shedding tears at that scene.
事故の原因に疑問を禁じ得ない。
Jiko no gen'in ni gimon o kinjienai.
I cannot help feeling doubt about the cause of the accident.
彼の話を聞いて、同情を禁じ得ない。
Kare no hanashi o kiite, dōjō o kinjienai.
Hearing his story, I cannot help feeling sympathy.
この悲惨な光景を見て、驚愕を禁じ得ない。
Kono hisan na kōkei o mite, kyōgaku o kinjienai.
Seeing this tragic scene, I cannot help feeling shocked.
長年の努力に、感銘を禁じ得ない。
Naganen no doryoku ni, kanmei o kinjienai.
I cannot help feeling deeply impressed by your many years of hard work.
Practice exercises
1
その結果に失望を禁じ得ない。
I cannot help feeling disappointed at that result.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
2
彼の言葉に怒りを禁じ得ない。
I cannot help feeling anger at his words.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
3
その知らせに驚きを禁じ得ない。
I cannot help feeling surprised at that news.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
4
数十年ぶりの再会に、感動を禁じ得ない。
At the reunion after several decades, I cannot help feeling moved.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
5
その悲劇の知らせに、悲しみを禁じ得ない。
At the news of that tragedy, I cannot help feeling sadness.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
6
彼女の勇敢な行動に、尊敬を禁じ得ない。
At her courageous actions, I cannot help feeling respect.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
7
彼らの将来を思うと、不安を禁じ得ない。
When I think of their future, I cannot help feeling uneasy.
Answer
を禁じ得ない
8
歴史の重みを感じる遺跡の前で、畏敬の念を禁じ得ない。
In front of the ruins where one feels the weight of history, I cannot help feeling a sense of awe.
Answer
を禁じ得ない