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<< zuni | ~ no you na >>

～ずにはいられない [～ずにはいられない] (zunihairarenai)
    Meaning: cannot help
    Example: I can't help feeling sad
    JLPT Level: 2
    Category: grammar
    Author: dc

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Notes:
I can't help doing ... I can't stop doing ... these are both the same: verb+ ~zu ni ha irarenai verb+~nai de ha irarenai (eg sezuni is a contraction of shinai)	(dc)
Not used for "feeling" something, where you should use -- doing I can't help shopping 買い物せずにはいられない買い物しないではいられない -- feeling I can't help feeling anxious NG: 私は不安しないではいられない OK: 私は不安でならない	(dc)
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Examples:

Note: visit WWWJDIC to lookup any unknown words found in the example(s)...
Alternatively, view this page on Rikai.com

ex #1236	買い物せずにはいられない I can't help shopping	[edit] (dc)
ex #1329	愛さずにはいられない。 I cannot stop loving you.	[edit] (bamboo4)
ex #3416	きみがまちがっていると思わずにはいられない。 I cannot help but think that you are making a mistake.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3417	しかし今は、一目見て、サメがその人にくらいつくのは避けられないようだということに気づかずにはいられない。 However, I can't help noticing, at this moment, that at first glance it seems inevitable that the shark will devour the man.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3418	その本を読むと誰でも泣かずにはいられない。 No one can read the book without crying.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3419	それを笑わずにはいられない。 I cannot help but laugh at it.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3420	君の愚かさには笑わずにはいられない。 I cannot help laughing at your folly.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3421	私は、彼の才能を称賛せずにはいられない。 I can't help admiring his talent.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3422	私はあなたを好きにならずにはいられない。 I cannot help falling in love with you.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3423	私はあなたを笑わずにはいられない。 I cannot help laughing at you.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3424	私はくしゃみをせずにはいられない、きのうかぜをひたんだ。 I can't help sneezing, I caught a cold yesterday.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3425	私はその少女を気の毒に思わずにはいられない。 I can't help feeling sorry for the girl.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3426	私はその冗談を聞いて笑わずにはいられない。 I cannot help laughing at the joke.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3427	私は英国の田舎に愛着を感じずにはいられない。 I can't help feeling affection for the English countryside.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3428	私は自国を愛さずにはいられない。 I can't help loving my country.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3429	私は笑わずにはいられない。 I can but laugh.	[edit] (dc)
ex #3430	私は赤ちゃんを見るとほほえまずにはいられない。 I cannot help smiling at babies.	[edit] (dc)

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See Also:

tenaranai [dc]
naidehairarenai (equivalent) [dc]

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Comments:
your name	why is this NG? This sentence is not wrong. I can't help shopping. 買い物せずにはいられない。 note : せず is a transformation of する＋ず nega.
bamboo4	買い物しないではいられない would be a normal, conversational way to say it, though.
Miki	ex3421 For me the Japanese is garbled. Looks like 私は、彼の才能を賞賛せずにはいられない。 ex3424 it should be 風邪をひいたんだ。
Olivier	This entry falls under JLPT Level 2 along with ないではいられない.
bamboo4	Would somebody fix #?
guest	How does this differ from naidehairarenai?
confused	The summary example is "I can't help feeling sad" but then the notes say that this expression is not used for feelings. Could someone (dc?) please explain. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
danny	Dear "confused", to my knowledge ないではいられない is used for or after VERBS and feelings such as "sad" are ADJECTIVES so this might be a reason why. Good luck with your studies!
karekano	I`ve changed ex #, bamboo4-san, but I`m not sure about this ”せず”　construction...　称賛するは称賛せずになりますか

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