cannot help but do ~, cannot leave without doing ~

Advanced

20-30 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Expresses inevitability - something will surely happen.

[Verb negative stem ず] + にはおかない

この映画は人々を感動させずにはおかない。

Kono eiga wa hitobito wo kandou sasezu ni wa okanai.

This movie cannot help but move people.

Emphasizes that result is inevitable.

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 10

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