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
自由自在
zì yóu zì zài
Completely free and unrestrained
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身不由己
shēn bù yóu jǐ
Forced to act against will
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言不由衷
yán bù yóu zhōng
Speak without meaning it
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反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
Seize control
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先入为主
xiān rù wéi zhǔ
Preconceived notions
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自不量力
zì bù liàng lì
Overestimate abilities
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自强不息
zì qiáng bù xī
Strive continuously for self-improvement
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不攻自破
bù gōng zì pò
Collapse without being attacked; self-defeating
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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”.