help这个词大家都认识,是“帮助”的意思。那么问题来了,你知道 I can't help it是什么意思吗? 如果翻译成“我不能帮助它”,可就大错特错啦~
还是来看一下权威的解释吧:
This phrase is often used to defend one's actions as involuntary or unavoidable.这个短语经常被用来为某人的行为进行辩护,表示某件事/行为是不自觉、不可避免的。 简单来说可以理解为“情不自禁”、“我也没办法”、“忍不住”等等。
一起来看一段对话:
-I wish you'd quit coughing all the time. -I can't help it. I wish I could too.-我真希望你别再咳嗽了。-我忍不住啊,我也希望可以不再咳嗽了。
在美剧《生活大爆炸》中,Bernadette和几位男士在玩游戏,有这样一段对话:
Raj: Bernadette, remember, your character's the healer in our group. You're in charge of healing all of us, not just Howard.Bernadette: I can't help it. My Howie Wowie has an owie.Sheldon: That is the most sickeningly sweet thing I have ever experienced.-伯纳黛特,你是我们团的补血师,你不能只给霍华德回血,要给大家回啊!-我情不自禁嘛,我的华仔小巫师受伤了呢。-这真是我所听过的最恶心的甜言蜜语。
要表示“情不自禁,一时激动”,我们还可以用这个表达:in the heat of the moment,例如: Joy didn't mean it - he said it in the heat of the moment.那不是乔的本意,他是一时激动才说这话的。