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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

ずにはいられない (zuni wa irarenai)

～ずにはいられない — “can’t help but ～”

In short · Describes an action you cannot stop yourself from doing because of strong feeling or impulse. It attaches to the ない-form with ない replaced by ず (する → せず). The same meaning is ～ないではいられない.
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Pattern

  • 動詞ない形の「ない」→「ず」＋にはいられない 泣かずにはいられない (can’t help crying)
  • 動詞ない形＋ないではいられない same meaning, a bit more casual

An uncontrollable impulse

A scene or news strongly moves the speaker, and the action happens almost on its own. この映画を見ると、泣かずにはいられない: whenever I watch it, I cry. The action is usually something the speaker does by nature.

Double negative

ずに (not doing) + はいられない (cannot stay) = cannot stay in the state of not doing it. So the result is that you do it. する verbs use せず: 手伝わずにはいられない, 感謝せずにはいられない.

Points to remember

It is for the speaker’s own feelings, so the subject is first person, or a third person described with the speaker’s view (彼は笑わずにはいられなかった). It is not used for planned actions.

Examples

  • この映画（えいが）を見（み）ると、泣（な）かずにはいられない。

    Kono eiga o miru to, nakazu niwa irarenai.

    When I watch this movie, I can’t help but cry.

  • こんなに美（うつく）しい景色（けしき）を見（み）ると、写真（しゃしん）を撮（と）らずにはいられない。

    Konna ni utsukushii keshiki o miru to, shashin o torazu niwa irarenai.

    Seeing such beautiful scenery, I can’t help but take a photo.

  • 困（こま）っている人（ひと）を見（み）ると、手伝（てつだ）わずにはいられない。

    Komatte iru hito o miru to, tetsudawazu niwa irarenai.

    When I see someone in trouble, I can’t help but help them.

Common mistakes

  • Use the ない-form stem + ず (言わずには), and する becomes せず (感謝せずには).
  • It is not a polite request or an order; it only describes an impulse.

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