Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 20/22

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

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    Formal

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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.

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