禁不住

jīnbuzhù
verb HSK 7 #16,527

Meanings

  1. 1 can't help (doing something)
  2. 2 can't bear; unable to endure

Examples

Tā jīnbuzhù xiào le qǐlái.
She couldn't help but laugh.
Zhè bǎ yǐzi jīnbuzhù zhème zhòng de rén zuò.
This chair can't bear someone so heavy sitting on it.

Tips

grammar
禁不住 is a potential complement (V不住). It has two meanings: 'can't restrain oneself from' (禁不住) and 'can't withstand' (禁不住). Context makes the meaning clear.
mistakes
The here is pronounced jīn (1st tone), not jìn (4th tone). Many learners use the wrong tone because 禁止 (jìnzhǐ) is more familiar.

Stroke Order

jìn
zhù