JLPT N1 Grammar
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Cannot help but feel; cannot suppress
Category: Emotion and Sincerity
The grammar pattern "N + を禁じ得ない" is used to express that a strong emotion or feeling is unavoidable or cannot be suppressed in response to a situation. It is a formal, written expression that implies a sense of inevitability or naturalness in the emotional response. This pattern is often used in formal writing, such as essays or news articles, to convey a sense of sincerity or authenticity. The use of "を禁じ得ない" emphasizes that the emotion is not something that can be controlled or suppressed, but rather it is a natural response to the situation.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (representing an emotion or feeling) | N + を禁じ得ない | 憤り |
| Noun (representing a situation or stimulus) | N + を聞いて/見て/感じて | その悲劇的なニュースを聞いて |
| Verb (in the passive form) | N + を禁じられない | 無責任な発言を繰り返す大臣に対し |
その悲劇的なニュースを聞いて、同情を禁じ得ない。
Sono higeki-tenka no nyūsu o kiite, dōjō o kinjide nai.
Upon hearing the tragic news, I couldn't help but feel sympathy.
その悲劇的なニュースを聞いて (hear the tragic news) + 同情を禁じ得ない (cannot help but feel sympathy)
無責任な発言を繰り返す大臣に対し、国民は強い憤りを禁じ得ない。
Mushinjin na hatsugen o kurikaeshi-suru daijin ni tsuite, kokumin wa tsuyoi furi o kinjide nai.
The citizens cannot help but feel strong anger towards the irresponsible minister who keeps making irresponsible statements.
無責任な発言を繰り返す大臣に対し (towards the irresponsible minister who keeps making irresponsible statements) + 国民は強い憤りを禁じ得ない (cannot help but feel strong anger)
科学の進歩がもたらした驚異的な成果に、驚きを禁じ得ない。
Kagaku no shinkō ga motaraseta kyōi-tenka no kōkō ni, kyōki o kinjide nai.
The astonishing results brought about by scientific progress are impossible to suppress one's amazement.
科学の進歩がもたらした驚異的な成果 (the astonishing results brought about by scientific progress) + 驚きを禁じ得ない (cannot help but feel amazement)
This pattern is used in formal, written Japanese to convey a sense of sincerity or authenticity. It is often used in essays, news articles, and other formal writing. The use of "を禁じ得ない" emphasizes that the emotion is not something that can be controlled or suppressed, but rather it is a natural response to the situation.
The passive form "を禁じられない" implies that the emotion is being suppressed or controlled, whereas "を禁じ得ない" emphasizes that it is unavoidable or natural.
This pattern is used to express emotions or feelings, not actions. Using actions instead of nouns can change the meaning of the sentence and make it incorrect.
The two patterns are often confused, but they have different meanings. "を禁じている" implies that something is forbidden or prohibited, whereas "を禁じ得ない" emphasizes that an emotion is unavoidable or natural.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the correct form of the verb and the correct noun representing the emotion. Also, be careful not to confuse this pattern with "を禁じている" (forbidden).
その悲劇的なニュースを聞いて、同情______。
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