情不自禁

English translation: Losing self control/can't help himself

14:40 Feb 1, 2015

Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Medical: Health Care

Chinese term or phrase: 情不自禁

A message worker with unrevealed past history of mental illness was sued for sexual assault. When asked why he did what he was accused of, "情不自禁' was said to be the reason for a certain hand touching of private area of the client, in a message booth.
He had previously also stated that a voice told him to take good care of the client.

What is your best English translation for "情不自禁" in this situation?

Wei Ralph KudoZ activity Questions: 2 (none open) Answers: 1 United States
Local time: 09:55

English translation:Losing self control/can't help himself

Explanation:
(Medium to high confidence level) 'losing/lost self control' in written form or 'can't help himself' in colloquial expression.
Any other suggestions?

Selected response from:

pacrting
Local time: 15:55

Grading comment

Thanks for your answer.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

FYI

QHE

Losing self control/can't help himself

pacrting

unable to restrain emotions

Andreacitton

emotionally triggered and unleashed

tanglsus

Couldn't help myself/couldn't stop myself/just had the urge...

Phil Hand

Discussion entries: 5

jyuan_us

United States

If you are translating the patient's quote

06:57 Feb 3, 2015

directly, "I just can't help" would be the best choice, as mentioned by pacrting.

Shirley Lao

Taiwan

13:50 Feb 2, 2015

It depends on which version of the DSM you are referring to. In earlier versions of the DSM, it seems to me that there is no category called impulsive disorder. But in DSM IV-TR, there is a category called impulsive control disorder.

Wei Ralph

United States

ASKER

11:33 Feb 2, 2015

Appreciate your insight on the Compulsive and Impulsive terms. Your posting has brought the light to this sad case.

"Impulsive behaviors usually provide the person with some sort of pleasurable sensation and are used to cope with stress or tension."http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-the-difference-between...

Shirley Lao

Taiwan

07:27 Feb 2, 2015

In DSM and mental health, there is a disorder called "obsessive and compulsive disorder".

Shirley Lao

Taiwan

情不自禁的="compulsive" for "mental health terminology

07:17 Feb 2, 2015

Groth, Hobson, and Gary（1982）等人指出，遠在80年代，研究家就已經針對兒童性侵害犯罪的變態行為進行分類學的研究。大部分的分類原則都圍繞在兩個基本議題：變態性犯行的程度是奠基於犯罪者和其心理需求，由於Groth將這種性侵害分為固著型（fixated）與退縮型（regressed）兩種。
Terry＆Tallon（2004）認為這二種類型的特徵區分為：固著型乃固執、堅持、持續不斷、情不自禁的對兒童產生吸引力；而退縮型之傾向乃經由外在壓力而導致犯罪情境的發生。
http://www.ccunix.ccu.edu.tw/~alumnicrm/tatdvso/web/SO/SO-ty...

Refer to the definition of "fixated offender" in Table 2.
http://zh.scribd.com/doc/163987509/Sex-Offender-Typologies#s...

"...The fixated offender has a persistent, continual and compulsive attraction to children."

Compulsion: a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.

Also, "impulsive" can also be used.

Answers

6 mins confidence:

Losing self control/can't help himself

Explanation:
(Medium to high confidence level) 'losing/lost self control' in written form or 'can't help himself' in colloquial expression.
Any other suggestions?

pacrting
Local time: 15:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Chinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks for your answer.

Notes to answerer

Asker: A good answer. Thanks.

27 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

FYI

Explanation:
uncontrollable/ uncontainable/ unrestrainable/ impulsive

QHE
United States
Local time: 10:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Chinese
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: The impulsive part certainly is relevant mental issue here. Thanks for the input.

2 hrs confidence:

emotionally triggered and unleashed

Explanation:
IMO

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2015-02-01 16:47:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

triggered and unleashed by the emotion

tanglsus
United States
Local time: 10:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Chinese

Notes to answerer

Asker: Well said. This behavior is most certainly emotion driven.

1 day 6 hrs confidence:

unable to restrain emotions

Explanation:
unable to restrain emotions

Example sentence(s):

情不自禁地流下泪来
cannot refrain from tears

Andreacitton
Italy
Local time: 16:55
Native speaker of: Italian

Notes to answerer

Asker: Appreciate your example.

1 day 13 hrs confidence:

Couldn't help myself/couldn't stop myself/just had the urge...

Explanation:
The discussion of the technical terms "impulse" and "compulsion" is very interesting and relevant BUT this are the words of a non-professional, so technical definitions are not what informs his speech. What you're looking for is a colloquial term which captures the feeling involved. I suggest one of the three above.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days7 hrs (2015-02-03 22:25:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Not sure I understand. Certainly mental health concepts are relevant, but the Chinese does not use a technical term, so a *translation* should not use a technical term. You might *explain* this phrase using a technical term.

Phil Hand
China
Local time: 22:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: Defense team is looking for ways from mental health angle to defend him. Therefore, mental health field does matter in this case.

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

情不自禁

English translation: Losing self control/can't help himself

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

情不自禁

English translation: Losing self control/can't help himself

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language