GRAMMAR DETAIL

を禁じ得ない

cannot suppress

Formally indicates that a powerful emotion arises involuntarily and cannot be restrained.

Examples

予想外の知らせに驚きを禁じ得なかった。

I could not suppress my surprise at the unexpected news.

その知らせに喜びを禁じ得なかった。

I could not suppress my joy at the news.

Structure: Attach を禁じ得ない to an emotion noun to express formally that the feeling cannot be suppressed. 禁じ得ない is read きんじえない.
Basic usage: 予想外の知らせに驚きを禁じ得なかった。 means that the unexpected news aroused surprise that could not be suppressed.

Prohibiting an act versus restraining a feeling
- 発言を禁じる prohibits the act of speaking. In 喜びを禁じ得ない, 禁じる instead means restraining the joy that wells up within oneself.