不由自主
不由自主 (bù yóu zì zhǔ) literally means “not by one's own control” and expresses “involuntarily; can't help but”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu you zi zhu, bu you zi zhu,不由自主 meaning, 不由自主 in english
Involuntarily; can't help but
Pronunciation: bù yóu zì zhǔ Literal meaning: Not by one's own control
Origin & Usage
Not (不) proceeding from (由) one's own (自) control (主). The grammar puts the person outside the action: something happened and they were not the one directing it. That is why Chinese uses it as an exculpation as much as a description — the laugh at the wrong moment, the step back from the edge, the tears at a piece of music. It names the class of behaviour that genuinely is not chosen, and a learner should note the shape of the sentence it lives in: 不由自主地 followed by the verb.
Examples
English: "He couldn't help but smile when he saw her."
Chinese: 看到她，他不由自主地笑了。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Push far enough and it turns
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不由自主 mean in English?
不由自主 (bù yóu zì zhǔ) literally translates to “Not by one's own control” and is used to express “Involuntarily; can't help but”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不由自主 used?
Situation: He couldn't help but smile when he saw her.
What is the pinyin for 不由自主?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不由自主 is “bù yóu zì zhǔ”.