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Home / Idiom / 不由自主

(idiom) can't help but; involuntarily

不由自主
bù yóu zì zhǔ
IdiomHSK 7-9
Chain
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Examples1 available
The president laughed in spite of himself.
总統不由自主地笑了起来。
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
(idiom) (of one's circumstances) beyond one's control; unable to do anything about it; (of one's actions) not subject to conscious control (i.e. done in spite of oneself)身不由己shēn bù yóu jǐdemons and gods at work (idiom); unexplained event crying out for a supernatural explanation · curious coincidence鬼使神差guǐ shǐ shén chāican't help it · can't bear it禁不住jīn bu zhù(idiom) cannot refrain from; cannot help; cannot but情不自禁qíng bù zì jīntreaty made under coercion · a treaty concluded with the enemy who have reached the city wall · treaty signed below the city wall to avert destruction · terms accepted under duress · a humiliating "treaty of peace" · capitulate to the enemy · accept one's terms for surrender城下之盟chéng xià zhī méngunable to control oneself · to be beside oneself不能自已bù néng zì yǐ
Antonyms
independent and autonomous (idiom); self-determination · to act independently · to maintain control over one's own affairs独立自主dú lì zì zhǔregeneration through one's own effort (idiom) · self-reliance自力更生zì lì gēng shēng