“〜wo kinjienai”: Can't Help Feeling / Cannot Suppress (an emotion) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
An emotion wells up naturally and can't be suppressed
“〜wo kinjienai”: Can't Help Feeling / Cannot Suppress (an emotion)
「emotion noun ＋ を禁(きん)じ得(え)ない」 means “can't help feeling (an emotion well up), cannot but…” — a certain feeling arises naturally and can't be held back. E.g. 「その光景に、私は涙を禁じ得なかった」 (at that sight, I couldn't hold back my tears), 「怒りを禁じ得ない」 (I can't help feeling anger). It's preceded by an emotion noun (涙・怒り・同情・驚き), in a written, formal register.
🧠 Core nuance: the feeling surges on its own, impossible to hold back
The core is an emotion welling up uncontrollably: on seeing or hearing something, a strong feeling (sympathy, anger, tears, surprise) arises naturally and can't be suppressed, involuntarily. 禁じ得ない literally is “unable to forbid” = cannot hold back. Dignified and written, it's mostly for solemn reflection on social phenomena or others' circumstances, common in critique, speeches, and articles.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| emotion noun ＋ を禁じ得ない | can't help feeling 〜 | 同情を禁じ得ない |
| common emotion nouns | 涙・怒り・同情・驚き | 涙を禁じ得ない |
| (note) takes a noun | ✗ verb ＋ を禁じ得ない | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- その悲惨な光景に、私は涙を禁じ得なかった。(At that tragic sight, I couldn't hold back my tears.) — can't hold back tears
- 政府の対応には、怒りを禁じ得ない。(At the government's response, I can't help feeling anger.) — can't help anger
- 被災者の話を聞き、同情を禁じ得なかった。(Hearing the victims' stories, I couldn't help feeling sympathy.) — can't help sympathy
- あまりの変わりように、驚きを禁じ得なかった。(At how much it had changed, I couldn't help being astonished.) — can't help surprise
- この結果には、失望を禁じ得ない。(At this result, I can't help feeling disappointment.) — can't help disappointment
🔄 Compare: を禁じ得ない vs ずにはいられない vs てならない vs を抑えきれない
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜を禁じ得ない | “can't help (an emotion)” (written, takes emotion noun) | 涙を禁じ得ない |
| 〜ずにはいられない | “can't help doing 〜” (takes a verb, general) | 笑わずにはいられない |
| 〜てならない | “terribly 〜” (strong feeling/sensation) | 残念でならない |
| 〜を抑えきれない | “can't hold back (an emotion)” | 怒りを抑えきれない |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Attaching a verb: ✗ 同情するを禁じ得ない → take an emotion noun (同情を禁じ得ない).
- Using を: emotion noun ＋ を禁じ得ない; ✗ に禁じ得ない.
- Casual settings: it's very written and formal; everyday speech uses 〜ずにはいられない.
- Attaching a non-emotion noun: what precedes must be an emotion (涙・怒り・同情); not an ordinary noun.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
を禁じ得ない is a written, formal expression meaning “can't help feeling (an emotion well up), cannot but…” — a feeling (tears, anger, sympathy, surprise, disappointment) arises naturally and can't be held back. Dignified in tone, it's mostly for solemn reflection on social phenomena or others' circumstances, common in critique, speeches, news, and formal writing. Preceded by an emotion noun. For a casual “can't help,” use 〜ずにはいられない. Master “emotion noun + can't suppress.” A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: emotion noun ＋ を禁じ得ない = can't help (an emotion).
- Preceded by: an emotion noun (涙・怒り・同情・驚き); uses を.
- Distinction: を禁じ得ない (takes an emotion noun, written) vs ずにはいられない (takes a verb).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「その光景に、私は涙___。」（禁不住落淚）
(A) を禁じ得なかった (B) に堪えた (C) に当たらない (D) を余儀なくされた
Q2. 「を禁じ得ない」の前に来るのは?
(A) 感情名詞（怒り・涙・同情） (B) 動詞て形 (C) い形容詞 (D) 疑問詞
Q3. 「怒りを禁じ得ない」の意味は?
(A) 禁不住(感到)憤怒
(B) 沒有憤怒
(C) 壓抑了憤怒
(D) 假裝憤怒
Q4. 「を禁じ得ない」の文體は?
(A) 書面、正式
(B) 親密口語
(C) 兒童語
(D) 命令語
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 同情を禁じ得ない。 (B) 同情するを禁じ得ない。
(C) 同情してを禁じ得ない。 (D) 同情だ禁じ得ない。
答案解析
1. (A) を禁じ得なかった ── 禁不住落淚。
2. (A) ── 接感情名詞。
3. (A) ── 禁不住感到憤怒。
4. (A) ── 書面、正式。
5. (A) ── 「同情を禁じ得ない」(名詞)正確。