bù不notyóu由fromzì自selfzhǔ主control
Involuntarily; can't help but; against one's will.
Literal meaning
not (不) — from (由) — self (自) — control (主)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a lack of self-control.
Examples
Tīng听dào到zhè这ge个xiāo消xi息，tā她bù不yóu由zì自zhǔ主de地kū哭le了qǐ起lái来。
Hearing the news, she couldn't help but cry.
Tā bù yóu zì zhǔ de tàn le yī kǒu qì.他不由自主地叹了口气。
He sighed involuntarily.
Usage & nuances
Describes an action or feeling that is difficult or impossible to control.
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