やむにやまれぬ

Meanings

irresistible; compelling; unable to help oneself

usually written using kana alone

Describes a strong inner urge or unavoidable circumstance that forces one to act, often despite one's will. Frequently used in the pattern 〜やむにやまれぬ思い or 〜やむにやまれぬ事情. The expression is somewhat literary and formal.

See also: やむにやまれず · やむにやまれない

やむにやまれぬ事じ情じょうで、彼かれは会かい社しゃを辞やめた。
Due to unavoidable circumstances, he quit his job.
やむにやまれぬ思おもいから、彼かの女じょはその計けい画かくに反はん対たいした。
Out of an irresistible feeling, she opposed the plan.

Kanji

止stop, halt
已stop, halt, previously

Related words

止やむに止やまれず
The continuative form (連用形) of the same expression, used adverbially to mean 'unavoidably' or 'compelled by circumstances'. やむにやまれぬ is the attributive form (連体形) and modifies nouns.
止やむを得えない
Means 'unavoidable' or 'have no choice', but is more about external circumstances rather than an inner compulsion. やむにやまれぬ emphasizes an irresistible internal drive.

Written forms

止やむに止やまれぬ
Kanji spelling using 止む; less common but still encountered.
已やむに已やまれぬ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 已む; it is rarely used.

Etymology

From the verb 止む (to stop) in the negative continuative form 止まず (not stopping), reduplicated with the particle に, and the negative auxiliary ぬ (classical equivalent of ない). Literally 'not stopping, not stopping', i.e., an unstoppable feeling or situation.