忍俊不禁
忍俊不禁 (rěn jùn bù jīn) literally means “cannot suppress a smile” and expresses “unable to hide amusement”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ren jun bu jin, ren jun bu jin,忍俊不禁 meaning, 忍俊不禁 in english
Unable to hide amusement
Pronunciation: rěn jùn bù jīn
Literal meaning: Cannot suppress a smile
Origin & Usage
This amused idiom describes being unable (不禁) to suppress (忍) a smile or laughter (俊), originating from Six Dynasties period literary descriptions. It first appeared in court chronicles describing officials maintaining composure despite amusing situations. The specific character '俊' originally referred to the slight facial movements preceding laughter. During the Tang Dynasty, it gained prominence in poetry describing elegantly restrained emotional responses. Unlike terms for uncontrolled laughter, it specifically describes the moment when attempted composure breaks despite social constraints. Modern usage captures situations where humor overcomes formal restraint, particularly in contexts where decorum would normally prevent visible amusement, suggesting genuine humor often proves irrepressible despite social conventions.
Examples
English: "Even the stern professor couldn't help smiling at the clever comment"
Chinese: 即使是严厉的教授也忍不住对这个机智的评论微笑
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 忍俊不禁 mean in English?
忍俊不禁 (rěn jùn bù jīn) literally translates to “Cannot suppress a smile” and is used to express “Unable to hide amusement”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 忍俊不禁 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving unable to hide amusement.
What is the pinyin for 忍俊不禁?
The pinyin pronunciation for 忍俊不禁 is “rěn jùn bù jīn”.