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Chinese/Dictionary entry

不由自主

bù yóu zì zhǔdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) can't help but / involuntarily
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-3868b0c8b4b0242f. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

不由自主 不由自主 [bu4 you2 zi4 zhu3] /(idiom) can't help but; involuntarily/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 由
    yóu

    to follow / from / because of / due to / by / via / through / (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ...

  • 自
    zì

    (bound form) self / oneself / from / since / naturally / as a matter of course

  • 主
    zhǔ

    owner / master / host / individual or party concerned / God / Lord / main / to indicate or signify / trump card (in card games)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.