〜を禁じ得ない: can't help feeling is a JLPT N1 grammar point. A formal way to say an emotion wells up uncontrollably. Structure: nom (émotion) + を禁じ得ない. This page explains the construction, gives Japanese examples with furigana readings, and links to related grammar points at this level.

〜を禁じ得ない: can't help feeling

Structure

nom (émotion) + を禁じ得ない

Explanation

禁じ得ない (“cannot forbid”) after an emotion noun says the feeling can't be suppressed: 怒りを禁じ得ない “I can't help feeling angry”. Written, formal register: used with 涙・怒り・驚き・同情, etc. The subject is the speaker.

Examples

At that news, I couldn't hold back my tears.

I can't help feeling angry at his behavior.

Quiz preview

  • を禁じ得 ✓
  • を得られ
  • に堪え得
  • を止め得

涙を禁じ得ない: couldn't hold back tears: formal, with emotion nouns.

  • を禁じ得ない ✓
  • を余儀なくされる
  • に越したことはない
  • を皮切りにする

怒りを禁じ得ない: can't help feeling angry (the speaker's emotion wells up).

More N1 grammar points

〜を踏まえ(たうえ)で: based on / taking … into account〜ならではの: unique to / only possible for〜や否や: as soon as / no sooner than〜を余儀なくされる: be forced to〜にひきかえ: in contrast to / unlike〜んばかりに: as if about to〜ながらも: even while / despite〜ゆえ（に）: therefore / owing to〜といえども: even (a)…〜そばから: no sooner than (again and again)〜きらいがある: has a (bad) tendency to

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