英语短语 "can't help but" 的核心含义是 "忍不住;不得不",用于表达因情感、本能或客观原因而无法避免做某事的状态。
1、 忍不住(情感/本能反应):因情绪或直觉驱动,无法控制自己做某事;
2、 不得不(客观/被迫情况):因外部条件限制,没有选择只能做某事。
I can't help but laugh when I see his funny face.
(看到他的鬼脸,我忍不住笑了。)
She can't help but cry every time she hears that song.
(每次听到那首歌,她都忍不住哭。)
We can't help but wait for the rain to stop—we have no umbrella.
(我们不得不等雨停,因为没带伞。)
He can't help but take the job—he needs money to pay his rent.
(他不得不接受这份工作,因为要付房租。)
两者都有"忍不住"的意思,但:
"can't help doing":后接动名词,更强调情感/本能的自发反应(如"忍不住笑/哭");
例:I can't help laughing at his joke.(听了他的笑话,我忍不住笑。)
"can't help but do":后接动词原形,除了"忍不住",还可表示客观被迫的"不得不"(如因现实条件限制)。
若需表达"忍不住被...", 结构为 can't help but be + 过去分词:
The story is so touching that I can't help but be moved.
(这个故事太感人,我忍不住被打动。)
用 "Can you help but...?" 表示反问,意为"你能不...吗?"(实际是"你不得不..."):
Can you help but admire her courage?
(你能不钦佩她的勇气吗?/你不得不钦佩她的勇气。)
"can't help but" 是一个固定搭配,核心是无法避免做某事,关键要记住后面接动词原形,并根据语境区分"忍不住"或"不得不"的含义。