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JLPT N2 Grammar

ないではいられなかった

N2Obligation

N2 · Obligation · nai-form verb + ないではいられなかった

could not help doing; could not resist

nai-form verb + ないではいられなかった

Shows that in the past the speaker could not suppress an action because of strong emotion, stimulus, or circumstances.

Common with verbs such as laugh, cry, say, check, or worry.

その話を聞いて、笑わないではいられませんでした。

When I heard that story, I could not help laughing.

Although the form contains a negative, the meaning is that the action did happen.

Think: 'I could not remain without doing it.'

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