English–Chinese

“can't afford” in Chinese

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pinyinmǎi bù qǐ

Example

现在我买不起新手机。xiàn zài wǒ mǎi bù qǐ xīn shǒu jī

I can't afford a new phone right now.

Illustration for 买不起 (can't afford)

How to say “can't afford” in Chinese

“Can't afford” in Chinese is 买不起 (mǎi bù qǐ).

A desired purchase sits above the buyer's spending limit.

Full entry for 买不起: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 买不起

物价上涨，很多人买不起日常用品。wù jià shàng zhǎng hěn duō rén mǎi bù qǐ rì cháng yòng pǐn

As prices rise, many people can't afford daily necessities.

Tips for using 买不起

  • The phrase commonly appears with products, prices, or brands, making it a useful compact way to explain why an expensive choice is not made.

“can't afford” in other languages