adverbial N2 uncommon casualpolitewritten
思わず — involuntarily
思わず ・ おもわず
Meaning
- involuntarily / reflexively / without thinking — an unplanned reaction to a stimulus
Key sentence
あまりのおかしさに、思わず笑ってしまった。
It was so funny that I burst out laughing without meaning to.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | 思わず + spontaneous action verb (often + てしまう) | 思わず声を上げる |
Examples
大きな音に驚いて、思わず振り返った。
Startled by the loud noise, I turned around reflexively.
あまりの美しさに、思わず息をのんだ。
It was so beautiful that I caught my breath without thinking.
When you can't use it
- Describes an unintended, reflexive action. Don't use it for a deliberate or planned act (×思わず手を挙げて発言した if you chose to speak).
Easily confused with
Notes
- Triggered by a sudden stimulus or strong feeling — surprise, amusement, pain, awe.
See 思わず in real sentences
Jengo shows 思わず the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.