Structure
Verb［ない］+ ずにはいられない
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Formal
About ずにはいられない
As mentioned in our ずに lesson, ず is an auxiliary verb that is not commonly used in modern Japanese, except for in set expressions. It has the equivalent role of ない, in expressing that something 'has not', or 'will not' happen. The case marking particle に is then combined with the adverbial particle は, and the negative-potential form of いる, いられない. ずにはいられない may be translated as 'cannot help doing (A)', or 'cannot resist doing (A)'.
ずにはいられない will be attached to the indeterminate form of verbs. This is the same stem form as ない uses.
Although ずにはいられない is often translated as 'cannot resist (A)', the literal meaning is simply 'cannot be without (A)'.
Caution
As the modern indeterminate form of する has several different forms, care will need to be taken when conjugating する verbs. While ない joins with し to create しない, ず will join with せ to create せず.
- この10年間色々とお世話になったから、先輩には感謝をせずにはいられない。This past 10 years, I have been helped a lot by my senpai, so there is no way I can go on without showing them some appreciation.
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私は猫アレルギーなのでくしゃみをせずにはいられない。I am allergic to cats so I can't not sneeze.
Synonyms
ずに
Without doing
Not studied yet
てたまらない
Can't help but want to, Very, Extremely
Not studied yet
ないではいられない
Cannot help doing something, Cannot resist doing something
Not studied yet
てならない
Very, Extremely, Can't help but do
Not studied yet
ざるを得ない
Can't help doing, Have no choice but
Not studied yet
わけにはいかない
Cannot afford to, No way, Impossible to do
Not studied yet
ないわけにはいかない
Can't not, No way to avoid
Not studied yet
てしょうがない
Extremely, Very, Really, It can't be helped
Not studied yet
Examples
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子供が生まれて泣かずには居られない。
You can't help but cry when your child is born.
彼はよく嘘をつくから、疑わずには居られない。
I can't help but be suspicious because he always tells lies.
事故を目撃したら、助けずには居られない。
When you witness an accident, you can't help but help out.
彼の変顔は面白すぎて、笑わずには居られません。[笑う]
His strange faces are just too funny, I can't help but laugh.
それを思い出すたびに恥ずかしくならずには居られない。
Everytime I recall that I can't help but get embarassed.
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ずにはいられない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
ShinobiTay
Is this different from わけにはいかない? the both seem to be personal
Fuga
Hey @ShinobiTay !
Although these seem similar, they have very different nuances.
ずにはいられない has the nuance of ‘cant stop myself from’, while わけにはいかない has the nuance of ‘cannot afford to’.This means that ずにはいられない is used when you cannot ‘resist’ doing something and わけにはいかない is used when you ‘have’ to do something undesirable since you have an obligation or there is no other option.
困っている人がいたから、助けずにはいられなかった。
Nuance: Someone was in trouble, so I couldn’t ‘resist’ myself from helping them.勤務中の警察官は、困っている人を助けないわけにはいかない。
Nuance: There is no way that an on duty police officer would not help a person in trouble.I hope this helps!
ShinobiTay
Yes it does! Thank you
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