bat1 nang4 zi6 ji5不能自已

Jyutpingbat1 nang4 zi6 ji5

Yalebāt nàhng jih yíh

語句

Definition

To be unable to control oneself or calm one's intense emotions.

writtenemotion

How it's used

This is a formal idiom that is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese. It carries a literary weight and is typically reserved for describing intense emotional states in writing or dramatic storytelling. Using it in everyday conversation often sounds overly theatrical or pretentious.

Examples

gin3見dou2到ngau5偶zoeng6像go2嗰zan6陣，keoi5佢gaan2簡zik6直hai6係bat1不nang4能zi6自ji5已。

When seeing the idol, he simply couldn't control his emotions.

teng1聽dou3到ni1呢go3個siu1消sik1息，nei5你dim2點joeng2樣ho2可ji5以zou6做dou3到bat1不nang4能zi6自ji5已？

Upon hearing this news, how could you possibly lose control of yourself?

Related words

synonymsat1 hung3失控sāt hung

Common phrases

gik1激dung6動dou3到bat1不nang4能zi6自ji5已

so emotional that one loses control

bei1悲soeng1傷dou3到bat1不nang4能zi6自ji5已

so sad that one cannot contain oneself

Common mistake

Learners often mistake the pronunciation of 已 for 己. Ensure you use the correct character, as 已 refers to the end or completion, while 己 refers to the self.