Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 20/23

ずには居(い)られない

Cannot help doing something, Cannot resist doing something

する → せず

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ずにはいられない

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

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.
  • 美味(おい)しそうなステーキが目(め)の前(まえ)にあったら、食(た)べずにはいられない。
    If there is a delicious looking steak in front of me, there is no way I can resist eating it.
  • この映画(えいが)を見(み)ると誰(だれ)でも泣(な)かずにはいられない。
    No matter who you are, if you watch this movie, there is no way you can not cry.
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(ねんかん)色々(いろいろ)とお世話(せわ)になったから、先輩(せんぱい)には感謝(かんしゃ)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.
  • 私(わたし)は猫(ねこ)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

Examples

--:--

    子供(こども)が生(う)まれて泣(な)かずには居(い)られない。

    You can't help but cry when your child is born.

    事故(じこ)が起(お)こったら、助(たす)けずには居(い)られない。

    When an accident occurs, you can't help but help out.

    それを思(おも)い出(だ)すたびに恥(は)ずかしくならずには居(い)られない。

    Everytime I recall that I can't help but get embarassed.

    彼(かれ)の変顔(へんがお)は面白(おもしろ)すぎて、笑(わら)わずには居(い)られません。

    His strange faces are just too funny, I can't help but laugh.

    一部(いちぶ)だけ読(よ)んだ小説(しょうせつ)の結末(けつまつ)に興味(きょうみ)を持(も)つようになって、読(よ)まずには居(い)られない。

    Since I am so curious about the ending of a book I read only part of, I can't stop myself from reading it.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        There are no Offline resources listed for 「ずにはいられない」.

        You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      ずにはいられない – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • ShinobiTay

        ShinobiTay

        Is this different from わけにはいかない? the both seem to be personal

      • Fuga

        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

        ShinobiTay

        Yes it does! Thank you

      Got questions about ずにはいられない? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion