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JLPT N2Modal Expressions

～ないではいられない— Can't Hold Back

Expresses an irrepressible urge to do something — 'cannot help but…' or 'can't resist doing…' It is the more colloquial counterpart of ずにはいられない, conveying that one's feelings drive the action involuntarily.

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Pro lessonUNIT 28 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb ない-form] + ではいられない

Examples · 例文

  • おいしそうなケーキを見ると、食べないではいられない。

    Oishisou na keeki o miru to, tabenai de wa irarenai.

    When I see a delicious-looking cake, I can't resist eating it.

    食べない + ではいられない = unable to stop myself from eating

  • 困っている人を見たら、助けないではいられない。

    Komatte iru hito o mitara, tasukenai de wa irarenai.

    When I see someone in trouble, I can't help but help them.

    助けない + ではいられない = helping becomes irresistible

  • あの歌を聞くと、口ずさまないではいられない。

    Ano uta o kiku to, kuchizusamanai de wa irarenai.

    When I hear that song, I can't help humming along.

    口ずさまない + ではいられない = humming is involuntary

Usage notes · 注意

  • Formed from the plain ない-form + ではいられない.
  • する → しないではいられない (regular, unlike せず in ずにはいられない).
  • Slightly more casual than ずにはいられない but the meaning is the same.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～ないではいられない is tested against.

vs～ずにはいられない

Same meaning; ないではいられない is the more colloquial form, while ずにはいられない is more literary/formal.

vs～てしまう

てしまう marks completion or regret about an action; ないではいられない stresses the involuntary compulsion driving one to do it.

More modal expressions

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