irresistible; compelling; unable to help oneself
Describes a strong inner urge or external pressure that makes one act despite oneself. Often used in the pattern 〜やむにやまれず or 〜やむにやまれぬ to mean 'unable to stop oneself' or 'driven by an irresistible force'. The expression is somewhat literary and formal.
Due to compelling circumstances, he quit his job.
Unable to help herself, she told the truth.
Kanji form using 止む. Recognizable but less common than the kana spelling.
Rare kanji form using 已む. It is a rarely used kanji form.
The expression repeats 止む “to stop” in the construction 止むに止まれない, literally describing something that cannot be stopped even when one tries to stop it.