Japanese grammar
What does ～をきんじえない mean? Japanese grammar N1
～をきんじえない means cannot help feeling…; cannot suppress (emotion).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N1 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N (emotion) + を禁じ得ない |
| Romaji | wokinjienai |
| Meaning | cannot help feeling…; cannot suppress (emotion) |
Forming it
| Noun (anger) | 怒り + を禁じ得ない |
|---|---|
| Noun (tears) | 涙 + を禁じ得ない |
How to use it
States being unable to hold back a natural emotion (anger, sympathy, surprise) upon encountering a situation. Written style.
- 「～を禁じ得ない」 = "cannot hold back A (an emotion)". A is a noun denoting emotion: 涙 (tears), 怒り (anger), 驚き (surprise), 同情 (sympathy).
- The subject is the SPEAKER/writer, reacting emotionally to a situation.
- Very formal, written style.
Examples
事故の惨状に、涙を禁じ得なかった。
At the grim scene of the accident, I could not hold back my tears.
あの対応には怒りを禁じ得ない。
I cannot suppress my anger at that response.
Keep in mind
- Attaches to an EMOTION noun.
- The subject is the speaker, not used objectively for a third person.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong彼は涙を禁じ得なかった。
I could not hold back my tears.
Correct私は涙を禁じ得なかった。
「を禁じ得ない」 expresses the SPEAKER's own emotion; it's not used objectively for a third person.
-
Wrong反対を禁じ得ない。
I cannot hold back my reaction/backlash.
Correct反発を禁じ得ない。
「を禁じ得ない」 attaches to an EMOTION noun (涙, 怒り, 驚き), not an action/opinion (反対, opposition).
Exam tips
- 「を禁じ得ない」 = cannot hold back an emotion (涙, 怒り); the subject is the speaker.