yóubude

由不得

Word · Verb · AdverbTraditional不由得

not be up to; involuntarily; cannot help

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 7 examples
1.

verb

not to be up to (someone); not to be decided by

Indicates that a matter is beyond someone's control or decision-making authority. Often used to express that one's hands are tied.

Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
yóu不
bu由
de得
nǐ你
 。

This matter is not up to you.

Qù去
bù不
qù去
yóu不
bu由
de得
wǒ我
zuò做
zhǔ主
 。

Whether to go or not is not for me to decide.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
shì是
shàng上
jí级
de的
mìng命
lìng令
 ,
yóu不
bu由
de得
wǒ我
men们
tǎo讨
jià价
huán还
jià价
 。

These are orders from above; it's not up to us to negotiate.

2.

adverb

cannot help; involuntarily; unconsciously

Describes actions or reactions that occur automatically or without conscious control, often in response to external stimuli, emotions, or habits. Frequently collocates with verbs of emotion or reaction such as 笑 (laugh), 哭 (cry), 想起 (recall), 流眼泪 (shed tears).

Xiàng相
sheng声
de的
tè特
diǎn点
jiù就
shì是
jiào叫
rén人
yóu不
bu由
de得
fā发
xiào笑
 。

The characteristic of crosstalk is that it makes people laugh involuntarily.

Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
gè个
xiāo消
xi息
 ,
tā他
yóu不
bu由
de得
liú流
xià下
le了
yǎn眼
lèi泪
 。

Hearing this news, he couldn't help shedding tears.

Show 2 more examples
Kàn看
dào到
nà那
gè个
kě可
ài爱
de的
yīng婴
ér儿
 ,
tā她
yóu不
bu由
de得
xiǎng想
qǐ起
le了
zì自
jǐ己
de的
hái孩
zi子
 。

Seeing that cute baby, she couldn't help thinking of her own child.

Tā他
jiǎng讲
de得
shí实
zài在
tài太
hǎo好
le了
 ,
tīng听
zhòng众
yóu不
bu由
de得
gǔ鼓
qǐ起
zhǎng掌
lái来
 。

He spoke so wonderfully that the audience couldn't help but burst into applause.