不由自主 bùyóuzìzhǔ HSK7 involuntarily Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 不由 bùyóu can't help Cannot help doing something; instinctively or involuntarily, often used in phrases like 不由得 bùyóude or 不由自主 bùyóuzìzhǔ自主 zìzhǔ adjective to be independent To act on one's own initiative; to be in control of one's own affairs without being dominated by others