Q: How to express can’t help but in Japanese?

ずにはいられない (zu ni ha irarenai) means can't help but in Japanese. Simply: - take the ない nai form of a verb, - take off the ない nai, - stick on ずにはいられない zu ni ha irarenai - and you’re there! The ず zu form is used in writing, but in speaking we’d say ないではいられない nai de ha irarenai. Examples: 子供を気の毒に思わずにはいられなかったのだ。 Kodomo wo ki no doku ni omowazu ni ha irarenakatta no da. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the children.

Q: How to express have no choice but to ?

ざるを得ない (zaru wo enai) means have no choice but to in Japanese. This expressed obligations more than things you voluntarily want to do. To make it: - take the ない nai form of a verb, - take off the ない nai - stick on ざるを得ない zaru wo enai and you’re there! Example: お爺さんが急に入院したので、旅行をキャンセルせざるを得ない。 Ojiisan ga kyuu ni nyuuin shita node iku no wo kyanseru se zaru wo enai. My grandfather was suddenly hospitalised so I had no choice but to cancel the trip .

Q: How to express can't help but feel ?

てならない (te naranai) i s used mostly to express how you “can’t help but feel …” or that you’re “extremely (emotion)”. It’s also used to express you “can’t help but do…” It can be used with verbs or adjectives. - For verbs , take the て te form and add てならない te naranai. - For な na adjectives just add でならない de naranai. - For i adjectives , take the て te form and add てならない te naranai. This isn’t used in speaking, just writing. Example: イギリスで生活した時、不安でならなかった。 Igirisu de seikatsu shita toki, fuan de naranakatta. I was so nervous when I lived abroad. (I couldn’t help but feel nervous when I lived abroad.)

Q: What is the Japanese possession particle?

Th Japanese possession particle is の (no). We add the particle の to show the possession of something. It is like adding ‘s to the end of a word. 彼の帽子 kare no boushi | His hat 犬の毛 inu no ke | Dog’s fur

Question 1

How to express can’t help but in Japanese?

Accepted Answer

ずにはいられない (zu ni ha irarenai) means can't help but in Japanese.

Simply:

- take the ない nai form of a verb,

- take off the ない nai,

- stick on ずにはいられない zu ni ha irarenai

- and you’re there!

The ず zu form is used in writing, but in speaking we’d say ないではいられない nai de ha irarenai.

Examples:

子供を気の毒に思わずにはいられなかったのだ。

Kodomo wo ki no doku ni omowazu ni ha irarenakatta no da.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the children.

Question 2

How to express have no choice but to?

Accepted Answer

ざるを得ない (zaru wo enai) means have no choice but to in Japanese.

This expressed obligations more than things you voluntarily want to do. To make it:

- take the ない nai form of a verb,

- take off the ない nai

- stick on ざるを得ない zaru wo enai

and you’re there!

Example:

お爺さんが急に入院したので、旅行をキャンセルせざるを得ない。

Ojiisan ga kyuu ni nyuuin shita node iku no wo kyanseru se zaru wo enai.

My grandfather was suddenly hospitalised so I had no choice but to cancel the trip.

Question 3

How to express can't help but feel?

Accepted Answer

てならない (te naranai) is used mostly to express how you “can’t help but feel …” or that you’re “extremely (emotion)”.

It’s also used to express you “can’t help but do…” It can be used with verbs or adjectives.

- For verbs, take the て te form and add てならない te naranai.

- For な na adjectives just add でならない de naranai.

- For i adjectives, take the て te form and add てならない te naranai. This isn’t used in speaking, just writing.

Example:

イギリスで生活した時、不安でならなかった。

Igirisu de seikatsu shita toki, fuan de naranakatta.

I was so nervous when I lived abroad.

(I couldn’t help but feel nervous when I lived abroad.)

Question 4

What is the Japanese possession particle?

Accepted Answer

Th Japanese possession particle is の (no).

We add the particle の to show the possession of something. It is like adding ‘s to the end of a word.

彼の帽子 kare no boushi | His hat

犬の毛 inu no ke | Dog’s fur

Question 5

What are the Japanese location particles?

Accepted Answer

The Japanese location particles are に ni and で de.

に is used for the state of existing or being somewhere.

に is also used for time, helping set the scene of a verb.

で is used to mark the location of an action.

Question 6

Where to learn more Japanese grammar?

Accepted Answer

You can learn more grammar like this in our Japanese Grammar Bank.

If you'd like to study with a teacher, you should have a look at our online lessons on Flexi Classes (we even have a 7 day free trial!)

Would you rather study Japanese in Japan? We offer group and individual classes in Tokyo.

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Expressing "can’t help but…" in Japanese	Verb + ずにはいられない	食べずにはいられない
Results and consequences in Japanese	Verb (て form) + いる / いた	テレビがついている。
Exclude & include in Japanese	Phrase + 含まれていますか	ホテルの宿泊費には朝食が含まれていますか？

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