qíng情feelingbù不notzì自selfjīn禁restrain
Unable to restrain one's emotions; to be overcome with emotion; to be unable to control oneself.
Literal meaning
feeling (情) — not (不) — self (自) — restrain (禁)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a strong emotional response.
Examples
Tīng听dào到zhè这ge个xiāo消xi息，tā她qíng情bù不zì自jīn禁de地liú流xià下le了yǎn眼lèi泪。
Hearing this news, she couldn't help but shed tears.
Kàn看dào到hái孩zi子men们tiān天zhēn真de的xiào笑róng容，wǒ我qíng情bù不zì自jīn禁de地xiào笑le了。
Seeing the innocent smiles of the children, I couldn't help but smile.
Usage & nuances
Often used to describe a spontaneous emotional reaction.
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