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March 24, 2026
忍不住rěnbuzhù(ren3bu5zhu4)
忍不住 (rěn bù zhù) means 'cannot help' or 'unable to bear.' It is used to express an uncontrollable urge or emotion, often indicating that someone has been driven to act on a feeling they found difficult to suppress, such as laughter or tears.
Frequency#4573DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
忍不住 reflects a common aspect of Chinese culture where emotions are often tempered but can occasionally overflow, illustrating the value placed on restraint and self-control, yet acknowledging the human experience of feeling overwhelmed.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to hold back laughter during a serious meeting. The character 忍 (rěn) means 'to endure,' and 不住 (bù zhù) suggests a lack of ability to continue holding back. Picture them bursting out in uncontrollable giggles - they simply couldn't endure it any longer!
Meanings of 忍不住
rěnbuzhù(ren3bu5zhu4)
1cannot help
2unable to bear
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About 忍不住
忍不住Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4573Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 忍不住
Podcast: 忍不住
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AI Study Notes for 忍不住
Quick Contrast
忍耐 (rěnnài) - use 忍不住 when emphasizing an uncontrollable urge, while 忍耐 implies a conscious effort to endure or tolerate.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to hold back laughter during a serious meeting. The character 忍 (rěn) means 'to endure,' and 不住 (bù zhù) suggests a lack of ability to continue holding back. Picture them bursting out in uncontrollable giggles - they simply couldn't endure it any longer!
Usage Notes
When using 忍不住, it’s important to pair it with a verb that represents the action one cannot control, such as 忍不住笑 (cannot help but laugh). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts as it is more conversational.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 忍不住 connects well with other emotional expressions. Students should focus on practicing sentences that illustrate its usage in different contexts, enhancing their ability to express feelings in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
忍不住 reflects a common aspect of Chinese culture where emotions are often tempered but can occasionally overflow, illustrating the value placed on restraint and self-control, yet acknowledging the human experience of feeling overwhelmed.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 忍不住 with simply 忍 (to endure) without the context of an action. For example, saying '我忍不住' without specifying an action is incomplete; it should be '我忍不住笑了' (I couldn't help but laugh).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忍不住
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Grammar Patterns of 忍不住
忍不住 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
这实在很离奇，我____咯咯笑了起来。
It was so unreal that I broke into a fit of giggles.
Example Sentences for 忍不住 (8)
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1
这实在很离奇，我忍不住咯咯笑了起来。
zhè shí zài hěn lí qí， ， wǒ rěn bù zhù kǎ kǎ xiào le qǐ。
It was so unreal that I broke into a fit of giggles.
2
她忍不住打了个哈欠。
tā rěn bù zhù dǎ le gè hā qiàn。
She makes no attempt to stifle a yawn.
3
我忍不住想插上一句建议。
wǒ rěn bù zhù xiǎng chā shàng yī jù jiàn yì。
I cannot resist slipping in a word of advice.
4
他戏剧化的夸张架势使她忍不住想笑。
tā xì jù huà de kuā zhāng jià shì shǐ tā rěn bù zhù xiǎng xiào。
She wanted to laugh at the melodramatic way he was acting.
kàn jiàn lín xiān shēng jí kǔ le, , shòu shēng gū qiě ān wèi, zháo , rěn bù zhù yě tàn le yī.
Shousheng tried to comfort Mr. Lin, though he couldn't help sighing himself.
7
戴夫糟糕的表演结束后，她忍不住想挖苦他一番。
dài fū zāo gāo de biǎo yǎn jié shù hòu， ， tā rěn bù zhù xiǎng wā kǔ tā yī。
She couldn't resist a dig at Dave after his unfortunate performance.
8
她忍不住拿他的秃头开玩笑.
tā rěn bù zhù ná tā de tū tóu kāi wán xiào.
She can't resist making jokes about his baldness.
Cultural Notes for 忍不住
🏮Cultural insight
忍不住 reflects a common aspect of Chinese culture where emotions are often tempered but can occasionally overflow, illustrating the value placed on restraint and self-control, yet acknowledging the human experience of feeling overwhelmed.
Frequently Asked Questions about 忍不住
忍不住 is primarily informal and best used in everyday conversation.
Yes, 忍不住 can be used with various verbs to express actions one cannot help but do, such as 忍不住哭 (cannot help but cry).
You can say '我忍不住笑了' which means 'I couldn't help but laugh.'
